Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited opposition leader in the Omar Ayub National Assembly to a meeting to discuss the appointment of the top election commissioner (CEC) and other members of the Election Commission in Pakistan (ECP).
In a letter on Wednesday, the prime minister emphasized that the term Cec Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with two other members, Nisar Ahmad Durrani from Sindh and Shah Muhammad Jatoi from Balochistan, ended on January 26. However, they have continued to serve under Article 215 of the Constitution.
The letter pointed out that, according to Article 218, proposals for the new CEC and members should be forwarded to the parliamentary committee.
The appointment process for CEC and members of the ECP is described in Article 213 of the Constitution, which requires the Prime Minister and the opposition leader jointly propose three names to the president for approval.
In the event of disagreement between the two, the primary pinat and opposition leader will submit their individual nominations to a parliamentary committee.
After this, the National Assembly’s speeches will establish a committee of 12 members with equal representation from both the government and the opposition benches. The committee then selects a nominee to forward to the president for approval, ideal by consensus.
Under Article 217, if the CEC period expires, the senior member of the Commission will take on the duties of the supreme election commissioner. If the senior member is not available, the next senior member will take over responsibility.
