CEC’s appointment okayed on guarantee of ‘neutrals’
Ex-prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said that the neutrals – the name he gave to the establishment – had guaranteed him that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikandar Raja will remain unbiased, and he, therefore, accepted the appointment.
The former PM made this assertion during a televised interview (TV) with TV anchor Imran Riaz Khan.
He made this disclosure about the nomination of CEC Raja. He has been criticizing him over his alleged tilt towards PML-N.
He said that a deadlock had arisen between the then-government and the opposition regarding the appointment of the CEC.
“The neutrals approached us and said that [the matter] is blocked and the country must move on.”
The neutrals said they would put forward a name on which the two parties [opposition and government] would have no objection, he added.
Imran Khan said the neutrals gave the name of Sultan Sikandar Raja as CEC, and he never knew Raja before it.
He said that PTI members vehemently opposed the proposed name when they learned about it as Raja was close to the Sharif family.
Imran Khan said when he handed this over to the powers that be, “They have guaranteed that Raja will remain neutral.”
He announced that he would go to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against CEC Raja Sikander.