Pakistan’s Supreme Judicial Council has thrown out a high-profile complaint lodged by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, marking another setback for the embattled opposition party in its ongoing battle over electoral legitimacy.
The decision, communicated to PTI through an official letter dated May 21, confirmed that the council had examined the complaint during a meeting held on February 11 and found no grounds to proceed against the election chief.
Former PTI secretary general Omar Ayub Khan had filed the complaint in July 2024 under constitutional provisions allowing for the removal of judicial and quasi-judicial officers for misconduct. The petition accused the Chief Election Commissioner and four other Election Commission members of serious breaches of constitutional duty during the conduct of the February 8 general elections.
PTI’s complaint centered on multiple grievances. The party alleged that the Election Commission failed to ensure transparent polling, ignored Supreme Court directives on election timelines, and demonstrated systematic bias against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Specific accusations included the de-seating of Khan from his National Assembly constituency, his five-year disqualification from contesting elections, and what PTI described as orchestrated criminal proceedings against their leader.
The party also challenged the allocation of reserved seats following the 2024 elections, arguing that denying these seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council—widely seen as PTI’s electoral vehicle after the party faced restrictions—violated constitutional principles.
After reviewing the arguments and supporting material, the Supreme Judicial Council determined the complaint lacked sufficient merit. The council’s decision effectively validates the Election Commission’s conduct during one of Pakistan’s most controversial electoral exercises in recent memory.
The dismissal represents a significant legal defeat for PTI, which has pursued multiple judicial avenues to challenge the February elections and their aftermath. The party has consistently maintained that the electoral process was manipulated to prevent it from forming government despite claiming popular support.
With this avenue now closed, PTI faces narrowing options in its efforts to contest what it views as systematic institutional bias. The decision also reinforces the Election Commission’s authority at a time when questions about electoral integrity remain central to Pakistan’s political discourse.
The Supreme Judicial Council, comprising senior judges, is the constitutional body empowered to investigate complaints against judges and certain constitutional office holders, including the Chief Election Commissioner. Its decisions carry significant weight in Pakistan’s legal and political landscape.
