Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Following a heated exchange of words over the Chief Election Commissioner’s decision to postpone a hearing in connection with Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed’s political party, the latter announced on Wednesday that he would approach the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to seek the CEC’s disqualification.

Earlier, the CEC decided to postpone the hearing over the leadership of the party during its registration case as both claimants to the post arrived late at the Election Commission of Pakistan’s headquarter.

Justice Wajihuddin and a citizen, Dr Zafar Aziz Khan, are both claiming to be the heads of the Aam Admi Party, whose registration is pending a decision by the ECP.

When Justice Wajihuddin found out about the postponement of the hearing on arrival at the ECP headquarters on Wednesday, he headed for the CEC’s chamber to register his protest. At the chamber, he reportedly told the CEC that he could have waited for some more time since the retired judge had travelled from Karachi to Islamabad just for the hearing.

Annoyed by the retired judge’s tone, the CEC told him that he was speaking in a disrespectful manner. On this, Justice Wajihuddin responded that the CEC was a public servant and he should be prepared for such interactions.

Resultantly, Justice Wajihuddin was asked by the CEC to leave the office, following which he was furious. Speaking to the media, he said the CEC was incompetent to hold the next general elections.

He said he had been given just a day’s notice to travel from Karachi to Islamabad for the hearing and on arrival at 1030am he was told that the hearing had been adjourned.

He said retired judges working at the ECP apparently thought that there job was just to sit and sip on cups of tea, adding that it was a sad day for the Election Commission as it had failed to fulfil its responsibilities. He announced that he would approach the SJC with his complaint against Sardar Raza Khan.

“This man is not qualified to be the CEC and I am seriously thinking to move in Supreme Judicial Council to remove him”, he said.

Speaking to Daily Times later in the day, he confirmed his plans saying, “I stand on my words and I have started to prepare a complaint against the CEC, which will be filed in SJC in the next few days.”

Meanwhile, a clarification issued by the ECP in this regard stated that the CEC had received Justice Wajihuddin in his chamber on his request where the retired judge used inappropriate and aggressive tone. The clarification further explained that Justice Wajihuddin was asked by the CEC to not speak loudly but he continued and also used derogatory language. Justice Wajihuddin had announced forming his own politica party after he left the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in September 2016.

Published in Daily Times, February 22^nd 2018.