Govt-opposition consensus a good omen: Sikandar Sultan Raja

ISLAMABAD: Newly-nominated Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has said he is thankful to the government and the opposition for his nomination.

“The consensus between the government and the opposition will be a good omen for the country,” he said in a talk with The News and Jang after his nomination for the constitutional post of the chief election commissioner after the government and the opposition reached consensus on his nomination.

Sikandar said he will make all efforts so that the Election Commission of Pakistan could come to expectations of the nation. “The reforms will be brought where they are needed,” he said.

Sikandar is the first retired bureaucrat who was nominated for the post of the chief election commissioner after the enactment of the 22nd constitutional amendment as in the past, only a retired judge got this post. The CEC post fell vacant after the retirement of Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan on December 5, 2019.

Sikandar was born in a village near Bhera in District Sargodha. His father was an army officer. He got his earlier education from the Government High School Bhera and later went to do matriculation and FSC from the Cadet College Hasan Abdal. He did MBBS from the King Edward Medical College. He also got a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from the Punjab University and then passed the CSS exam in 1987 and was allocated DMG/PAS.

He started his career as assistant commissioner Islamabad. His main postings during his service have been deputy commissioner Islamabad, director general Excise and Taxation Punjab, provincial secretary Communications and Works Punjab, provincial secretary Services and General Administration Punjab, provincial secretary Local Government & Community Development Punjab, director general Immigration and Passports in the federal government. He also holds the distinct honour of having served as chief secretary Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and CS Azad Kashmir (AJK) and has served as federal secretary Petroleum & Natural Resources, SAFRON. He recently retired as secretary/chairman Railways.