Poll supervisory body: PTI shortlists names for ECP members

Names of Tariq Khosa, Shoaib Suddle, Justice Kazim Ali Malik, Jahangir Ashraf Qazi under consideration

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), the second largest opposition group in the National Assembly, wants a role in the appointment of new members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Imran Khan’s party has shortlisted the names of three well-reputed retired bureaucrats for Punjab and one each for Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, The Express Tribune has learnt. These nominations will be discussed with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The PTI has shortlisted the names of Tariq Khosa and Dr Shoaib Suddle and Justice Kazim Ali Malik. Both Khosa and Suddle are well-decorated retired police officers while Justice Malik’s claim to fame is his decision that resulted in the by-election on NA-122 (Lahore V).

The party was considering the name of former diplomat Jahangir Ashraf Qazi for Balochistan and former chief secretary Javed Iqbal for Sindh, sources told The Express Tribune.  They said the party will offer the PPP to have its own nominee for Sindh.

Interestingly, the party has selected its candidates keeping in view the liberty given by the recently passed 22nd Constitutional Amendment.

The amendment paved the way for senior civil servants and even celebrated technocrats to hold the office of chief election commissioner (CEC). The amendment had redefined Article 81, 213, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 221 and 222 of the Constitution.

Previously, Article 213 (2) of the Constitution stipulated that only a person who is, or has served as a judge of the Supreme Court or a high court could be appointed as the CEC. Members of the ECP had to be judges of the superior judiciary as well.

According to the appointment procedure laid down in Article 213 (2A) of the Constitution: “The prime minister shall, in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, forward three names for appointment of the commissioner to a parliamentary committee for hearing and confirmation of any one person.”

Though the Constitution clearly states that consultation would take place between the leader of the opposition and the prime minister, PTI wants the opposition leader to take them into confidence as well.

Given the working relationship between the PTI and the PPP in the wake of the Panamagate scandal with both the parties pledging to take on the ruling PML-N, sources said the PPP was likely to consult the PTI regarding the appointment of ECP members.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2016.