ISLAMABAD – Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharifhas recommended to Prime Minister Imran Khan the names of Nasir MahmoodKhosa, Jalil Abbas Jilani and Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar for the post of chiefelection commissioner (CEC), a private TV channel reported on Saturday.
Shehbaz, in a letter sent to the prime minister on November 25, noted thatthe incumbent CEC Justice (r) Sardar Raza’s term will expire on December 6.He also reminded the prime minister that two posts for Election Commissionof Pakistan’s (ECP) members are already vacant. The former chief ministertold the prime minister that under Section 3 of the Elections Act, 2017, itis a requirement that an ECP bench must have at least three members, withor without the CEC. He highlighted the impact of not making the appointmentin a timely manner, saying: “The consequence will be that the ECP willbecome dysfunctional on the said date (December 6), unless either a new CECor one or more members is appointed.”
The PML-N president, citing Article 213 of the constitution, said that theprime minister should have started the consultation process on the new CEC‘much earlier’. He added that he is ‘taking the initiative’ by forwardingthree names to avoid any possible discontinuity in the functioning of theECP.
In the letter, Shehbaz further said that in his opinion, the threeindividuals are ’eminently qualified’, while stressing the need to takeurgent action on the matter. “It is my earnest hope that the merit of thesepersons will be appreciated for urgent consideration in accordance with thelaw. Should you require any additional information/clarification, this canbe made available forthwith,” the letter read.
He pointed out that a deadlock was created due to a lack of consultationfor the appointment of ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan and urgedPrime Minister Imran to adopt a ‘consensus-oriented consultation’ toappoint the next CEC. “I would strongly urge that this time we mustendeavour to avoid any such impasse by making serious, sincere and genuineeffort to evolve a consensus,” the letter said.
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Shehbaz, in a separate letter written to the PM on Friday, had alsorecommended names for the two vacant ECP seats from Balochistan and Sindh.For Sindh, he had nominated Nisar Durrani, Justice (r) Abdul Rasul Memonand Aurangzeb Haq; and for Balochistan, he the names of Supreme Courtlawyer Shah Muhammad Jatoi, former advocate general of the province RaufAtta and Rahila Durrani were proposed.
Also on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran sent his recommendations for the ECPmembers from Sindh and Balochistan to the NA speaker and the Senatechairman, in response to their letter dated Nov 5.
For the post of ECP member from Sindh, the prime minister proposed thenames of Justice (r) Sadiq Bhatti, Justice (r) Noorul Haq Qureshi and AbdulJabbar Qureshi. He recommended Dr Faiz M Kakar, Mir Naveed Jan Baloch andAmanullah Baloch for the office of ECP member from Balochistan.
