Meher Bokhari calls for CEC Raja’s resignation, as Zarrar Khuhro points to clear evidence leading to a single conclusion.
Despite various obstacles such as the suspension of cellular service, internet outages, sporadic violence, and reports of mismanagement, Pakistanis turned out to vote in the general elections of 2024. The Chief Election Commission (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had assured the public that the election management system was reliable and that there would be no delay in election results. However, the ECP’s Election Management System (EMS) failed to live up to expectations, with the first results taking over nine hours to be released, sparking allegations of rigging.
This delay reminded many of the 2018 election, where a similar system crash caused significant delays and controversy. As a result, CEC Raja came under heavy criticism from various quarters, including journalist Meher Bokhari who called for his resignation if he was not aware of what was happening. Other journalists and analysts also expressed their disappointment with the ECP’s performance, with some calling for CEC Raja’s resignation.
The PTI was also praised for their voters’ perseverance in the face of adversity, and the discussion and openness surrounding the delays in election results were noted as a positive aspect of the process. Overall, the election results seemed to suggest that things were not going as planned for the ruling party.