The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday rejected a petition seeking the removal of caretaker Federal Minister for Privatisation and Inter-Provincial Coordination Fawad Hasan Fawad from the caretaker cabinet, deciding that the official would remain in his position.

The petition was filed in October seeking the removal of “biased” members of the federal cabinet to ensure the conduct of free, fair and transparent general elections in February next year.

The verdict of the electoral watchdog comes days after the ECP ordered the removal of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Establishment Ahad Cheema from his post in the same case.

Fawad was principal secretary to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while Cheema was an aide to Shehbaz Sharif when the latter was premier.

In the short order issued last week, the ECP had said the petitioner’s request for Cheema to be removed was “reasonable and is accepted” on the basis that the latter was a part of the previous government and could thus “influence the holding of free, fair and transparent elections” if he continued in his post.

The ECP had directed that Cheema be removed from his position and ordered the Cabinet Division secretary to immediately issue the notification in this regard.

The petition had noted that transparency of elections was not possible due to certain persons being in the caretaker government.

“If the government wants a transparent election, these people should be removed from their positions,” the petition had said.

Today, the ECP pronounced its reserved verdict, stating that Fawad’s role could not exert influence on the elections.

The watchdog noted that the respondent’s role as a minister for privatisation did not have a significant impact on the electoral process.

The ECP said the arguments of the petitioner were not supported by any evidence and he did not convince the bench regarding interference of the respondent in the ongoing election process.

“The matter cannot be decided in favour of the petitioner on the basis of apprehensions,” it said. “Civil Servants are liable to serve in any field assigned to them during their service and this fact does not prove that the civil servants have political affiliations.”

It said from the foregoing facts, “we are clear in our minds that the contentions of the petitioner qua biasness of Mr Fawad Hassan Fawad; having served at key positions in previous governments and his political affiliation, are based on mere allegations which lack substantial evidence”.

It concluded by saying that Fawad, having portfolio of caretaker privatisation adviser, “has no nexus with the election process and cannot influence the upcoming general election”.

It said the contention of the petitioner that Fawad has served on key positions due to alleged political affiliation “appears forceless and untenable as the appointment on such key posts is carried out strictly on merit keeping in view the performance of civil servants”.

“Therefore, we are not convinced with the contentions of the petitioner and are inclined to reject the same,” it added.

Fawad has served as principal secretary to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He had also faced NAB investigation for several years in an alleged white-collar crime case but was acquitted of all charges.