After two unsuccessful attempts, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah to provide nominations for the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC).
On June 24, Shah had asked the premier to initiate the process of appointing a new election chief. The PM had started the process of appointment in November 2013 and once more in February this year, but no resolution was reached on the issue.
The opposition leader said that nominations would be sent to the PM after consultation with other parties in the opposition. Though Shah did not give a date, he said that the exercise would be completed as soon as possible.
Shah’s letter to the PM said the constitutional office of CEC had been lying vacant since the resignation of Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim who stepped down immediately after the presidential election in protest against the change of schedule by the SC.
Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had changed the schedule of the presidential elections, as demanded by the ruling PML-N, due to which the Pakistan Peoples Party boycotted the polls and the CEC resigned.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of Ebrahim as CEC in July 2012 after a parliamentary panel selected him for the post. He was the 24th individual to occupy the post after 12 permanent and 11 acting chief election commissioners.
Following Ebrahim’s resignation in July last year, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court has been working as the acting CEC, as required under the constitution.
Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani held this position for quite some time, and after his elevation as the chief justice, Justice Nasirul Mulk is holding the slot.
Consultation process
Under Article 213, the prime minister, in consultation with the opposition leader, has to forward three names for appointment of the CEC to a parliamentary committee for approval.
The committee, to be constituted by the National Assembly speaker, will comprise 50 per cent members from the treasury benches and 50 per cent from the opposition parties to be nominated by the respective parliamentary leaders, based on their strength in parliament.
However, in case there is no consensus between the two, each will forward separate lists to the committee for consideration which may confirm any name. The total strength of the parliamentary committee will be 12, of which one-third will be from the Senate.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (5)
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After 18th amendment. CEC is as good as a provincial EC. Each one of the 5 EC (CEC and 4 provincial ECs) got one vote each in every matter. Therefore, unless all provincial CEC resign, we will still have corrupt system in the presence of CEC at provincial levels, appointed by PPP and PMLN in Punjab and PPP and MQM in Sindh.
@Iram:
Judging by how IK has lost his mind after not being able to wear that Sherwani which was especially tailored for his oath taking ceremony in 2013, one should do IK the favor and make him the PM, Judge, Jury and executioner, right?
Following the observation of 2013 polls scenario it is infered that in Pakistan Judiciary branch and EC are not autonomous despite under the domination of legistlative branch. Holding of free, fair and transparency based election will be impossible until EC become self-determinant.
A permanent Chief Election Commissioner should be appointed soon. PML-N should suggest people of high standing for this job. PPP and PTI in consultation with other opposition parties, should use this opportunity to nominate impartial persons for this post. Government and Opposition should appoint an honest person as CEC. Hope that this will help in making next elections more credible.
By observing the domestic(Election 2013 Punjab) performance of Sethi, he should be appointed as chairman of CEC.