ISLAMABAD: The PTI has deplored the meeting between the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan said the visit of the British envoy to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) office “defies logic as to its merit & intentions”.
“Supreme Court of Pakistan, in its detailed judgement, held the CEC guilty of violation of the constitution by refusing to hold elections within the stipulated period,” the spokesperson said.
“He is now repeating his performance in lieu of the national elections which constitute the bedrock of democracy in the country. Calling upon a contemner of the constitution is like applauding him for his misdeeds.”
“Will she allow such an act to be enacted in her own country? Are we revisiting a colonial past? Like they say, old habits die hard,” he said, adding that it’s time for the envoy to “walk out of that horrid past, stop acting the vicereine & display some consideration to the dominant public sentiment.”
A day earlier British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad.
“Important introductory meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at ECP today,” Marriot wrote in her post on X after the meeting. The British envoy stressed that is crucial to hold “free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections” in Pakistan.
The CEC said the election commission is ready for transparent and impartial elections. The British High Commissioner assured support and said it is the job of the Pakistani people to elect their future leaders.
She said Britain is committed to deepening and broadening ties with Pakistan and will continue to work closely with elected representatives.
Last month, United States Ambassador Donald Blome also met the CEC to reaffirm his country’s support for “free and fair elections.”
During the meeting, the envoy said the United States would work to strengthen the US-Pakistan relationship with “whomever the Pakistani people choose”.
“The United States remains committed to working to broaden and deepen the US-Pakistan relationship with whomever the Pakistani people choose,” a statement from the US embassy said.
