ISLAMABAD: In a significant shake-up, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has undergone a major reshuffle, with key provincial members swapping positions.
Key Appointments and Transfers
According to a notification issued on Thursday, the following changes have been made:
- Sharifullah, previously the provincial election commissioner of Sindh, has been appointed to Punjab.
- Muhammad Farid Afridi, former provincial election commissioner of Balochistan, is now the joint election commissioner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Aijaz Anwar Chohan, previously provincial election commissioner of Punjab, has been reappointed to Sindh.
- Ali Asghar Sial has been named provincial election commissioner of Balochistan.
- Aleem Shahab has been appointed as additional director general (headquarters).
Uncertainty Over New Chief Election Commissioner
The reshuffle comes as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja has completed his term. However, the government and opposition have yet to initiate discussions on appointing his successor.
On January 27, a day after Raja’s tenure ended, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the largest opposition party, demanded the immediate appointment of an “honest, unbiased, and neutral CEC” in consultation with PTI.
“The outgoing CEC’s dark era left an indelible mark on the country’s electoral landscape,” said PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram. He urged the government to ensure a timely, transparent, and consensus-based appointment of the new CEC and two provincial election heads to prevent further institutional decline.
PTI’s Tensions with the ECP
PTI has long had a rocky relationship with the ECP under Raja’s leadership, marked by legal battles and public disputes. Tensions escalated during the 2024 general elections, where PTI alleged widespread rigging and vote tampering after the ECP revoked its cricket bat election symbol.
The party has repeatedly accused Raja of delaying election results and manipulating vote counts, claims that the ECP has consistently denied.
