Following a firm order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Election Commission of Pakistan has finally issued the schedule for the February 8 elections. The eleventh-hour decision put to rest the rumours about a further delay in the general elections.

For months, the polls had been delayed over one pretext or the other. On November 3, an SC bench, headed by the chief justice of Pakistan, had ruled that the people would exercise their right of franchise in the second month of 2024. “This date is set in stone. It will not be changed,” he had remarked.

However, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s decision to challenge the appointment of returning officers before the Lahore High Court put the elections in jeopardy once again. In its petition, the PTI contested the appointments of civil servants to act as returning officer and deputy returning officers. It sought the appointment of officers from the lower judiciary.

On December 15, the LHC stayed the appointment of returning officers. The ECP challenged the high court order before the SC, requesting an urgent hearing of the case as the poll schedule had to be issued 54 days before the polling day. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Sardar Tariq Masood heard the ECP request the same evening. The CJP stressed that the apex court’s November 3 verdict was clear and “no one should be allowed to, on any pretext, derail democracy.” He instructed the ECP to “do its job” and issue the election schedule the same night.

The SC also directed the LHC not to hear the petition, sending a clear message to other high courts to avoid taking up any petition affecting the election process. The SC also stopped the ECP from hearing the petitions filed by various individuals against the delimitations.

In a surprising development, the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association expressed distrust in the Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, and asked him to step down. Later, the SCBA president wrote a letter to the CEC saying that the executive committee of the SCBA had issued the statement without his consent. Some analysts say the controversy should be viewed as yet another attempt to delay the elections.

However, even if the CEC resigns at this stage, this will not impact the election schedule. In such a scenario, the most senior member of the ECP will assume responsibilities as the CEC. He will continue in the office till the appointment of the next CEC. The new appointment will only be possible after the elections as the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly have to agree on a name for it.

Reacting to the PBC and SCBA demand, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said: “We don’t want the CEC to be removed at this time. We want fair and free elections without any delay.” His predecessor, the former prime minister Imran Khan, has been criticizing the CEC after being ousted from the government through a no-confidence motion.

Other political developments also suggest that the elections are unlikely to be delayed. Earlier, there was a general impression that the caretaker governments wanted to prolong their rule. However, the resignation of Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti is an indication that the writing on the wall is clear. He has not only resigned from the caretaker federal cabinet but also joined the Pakistan Peoples Party and intends to run for the National Assembly and the provincial assembly of Balochistan.

Also, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, believed to be close to the establishment, has announced plans to contest the elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies.

On the other hand, almost all political parties have stepped up campaign activities. The PTI, which is facing organisational issues, has asked dozens of lawyers to file their nomination papers. Prominent lawyers Latif Khosa, who recently joined the PTI, Salman Akram Raja, Gohar Ali Khan and several others have submitted their nomination papers.

For Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif, who has been acquitted from NAB cases, is seeking election to the National Assembly from Lahore and Mansehra, Former prime minister Shahbaz Sharif is contesting a National Assembly seat as well as a Punjab Assembly seat from Lahore. Maryam Nawaz is contesting a National Assembly seat and two Punjab Assembly seats from Lahore. Hamza Shahbaz is running for only a National Assembly seat. This seems to suggest that Maryam Nawaz might be a future chief minister of the Punjab. Hamza will likely join the federal cabinet.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari will contest a National Assembly seat from Nawabshah. Bilawal Bhutto will contest a seat from Larkana. After submitting their nomination papers, some of the candidates have started holding rallies to persuade people to vote for them. Fairness and transparency of these polls is likely to remain moot. However, there is no other option left for Pakistan.

The writer is a senior journalist, teacher of  journalism, writer and analyst. His X handle: @BukhariMubasher