As the government and the opposition failed to evolve a consensus on a new chief election commissioner (CEC), a parliamentary committee will now pick from the names shortlisted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and opposition leader Khursheed Shah.
The two leaders will forward their nominees to the 12-member parliamentary committee today (Tuesday) which will start deliberations the next day. Headed by Senator Rafiq Rajwana, the parliamentary panel has equal representation from treasury and opposition benches. And under the rules the nomination has to be endorsed by a two-thirds majority.
Despite PTI chairman Imran Khan’s objection to the name of Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, the lists prepared by both Nawaz and Shah carry his name. The Supreme Court Bar Association has also opposed Jillani’s nomination. However, under the Constitution it is only the prime minister and the leader of opposition who have to consult each other and forge a consensus.
In the event of their consensus, the name is forwarded to the parliamentary committee where a two-thirds majority vote is needed for approval of the name. But if there is no consensus, they can send their separate lists to the committee which has to pick one name through a two-thirds majority vote. Once the matter lands in the parliamentary committee, it has 14 days to decide the matter.
A meeting of the parliamentary committee will be convened on November 12 (Wednesday) only a day before the Supreme Court’s deadline (November 13) expires, after which it may withdraw its judge who is currently serving as acting CEC.
According to sources, Khurshid Shah has proposed in his list names of Justice (retd) Jillani, Justice (retd) Tariq Pervez and Justice (retd) Ajmal Mian while the prime minister’s list carries the names of Justice (retd) Jillani and Justice (retd) Saeedul Zaman Siddiqi.
The PML-N excluded from its list the name of Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas after he excused himself from the job while the opposition dropped the name of Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid proposed by the PTI due to some reservations.
Some media reports claimed that Justice Jillani has also declined to accept the responsibility. The PTI and some other parties which have been calling for revamp of the Election Commission may not accept the new appointment to be made by the PML-N and the PPP – parties which have a major say in the matter because of their numerical strength in parliament.
Due to growing political polarisation, the appointment of CEC has become a very contentious issue.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the parliamentary committee’s chairman, Senator Rafique Rajwana, said that under the laws the committee would contemplate the names and develop a consensus on one name. “If we fail to reach a consensus, then voting will take place and the new CEC will be appointed through a two-thirds majority,” he added.
He said the 12-member parliamentary committee included six senators and six MNAs. “PTI’s MNA Shehryar Afridi may not participate in the meeting due to his party policy. However the rest of the members will attend the meeting,” he added.
Apart from Rajwana and Afridi, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Muhammad Arshad Khan Leghari, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Shazia Marri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Darshan, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Islamuddin Shaikh and Sardar Muhamamd Yaqoob Nasir are part of the committee.
Federal Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid hoped that the government would meet the SC’s deadline for appointment of the CEC. He neither denied nor confirmed the inclusion of Justice Jillani in both lists, but said that almost all parties have shown trust in his person.
Meanwhile, former president of Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahagir opposed the appointment of Supreme Court’s former judges as CEC. “I believe retired judges should not be made a burden on national exchequer as they are already getting around Rs600,000 in pension,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1710998259-0/pti-(1)1710998259-0-270x192.webp)
It seems none of the major parties will ever agree on a CEC willingly. Some of them doen't like the fact that a judge gave decisions against one or the other, maybe related to someone or even simply because the person was proposed by someone else and hence the nominated person must be biased.
wowwwwww......6lacs pension ,never heard before,...
The only solution is to put Imran Khan in jail because he has indulged in the bad habit of scandalizing the honorable people in his lust for power. Incidentally, he indulges in bad-mouthing only against the retired persons (whom he had praised when they were in office!).
There are so many honest and brave people in this country but Imran has destroyed reputation of everyone. Why doesn't he present himself for this post and show us how to conduct elections.