Did CJP have any role in GE 2024?

ISLAMABAD: What role did the Chief Justice of Pakistan have in the general election 2024? What does he have to do with managing or rigging the elections?

Of all the allegations leveled by Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Hussain Chattha, the claims about Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa are the weakest as he has not explained what role a CJP has in conducting the elections or carrying out alleged rigging. He has not provided any evidence or briefed the media on how the CJP played a role in rigging the elections.

According to legal experts, the Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegations against ECP are understandable because it is the Election Commission which has the responsibility of conducting the elections but the CJP’s role is beyond comprehension. The returning officers were not taken from the judiciary in the general elections 2024, hence they were not answerable to the judiciary whatsoever. Under these circumstances, one wonders how the Chief Justice was involved in rigging.

Soon after the commissioner’s press conference, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, while talking to media persons, vehemently denied the allegations. He labeled these allegations as baseless and devoid of any truth or validity.

Qazi Faez Isa emphasized the importance of evidence when making such serious allegations. He also pointed out that the accuser has failed to submit any evidence to support the accusations. He expressed concerns about the potential harm for baseless allegations.

“Anyone can make allegations; it is their right to do so, but it should be accompanied by evidence. The lack of evidence submitted by the commissioner Rawalpindi likens it to accusations of theft and murder without any substantiating proof,” commented the CJP.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar Cheema termed the allegations of Commissioner Chattha baseless. He said the DRO and commissioner had nothing to do with the election results. The commissioner’s responsibilities are to coordinate before the election and provide support in the training. The commissioners supervise the elections but they have no role in the election process as the returning officers and Election Commission remain in contact with each other directly, he said.

The News also tried to contact and sent a written questionnaire to deputy commissioners of Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree but they did not respond to this scribe’s queries.