Opposition inches closer to finalising names for ECP

Grand opposition meeting on Panamagate scandal set for July 19

ISLAMABAD: The nine-party opposition bloc Wednesday moved a step closer to finalising names of new members of the ECP.

In a related move, the bloc decided to convene a meeting of all opposition parties – including those who are currently not represented in parliament -- on July 19 at a hotel in Islamabad to chalk out a unanimous strategy over the Panamagate scandal.



“In principle the matter [of finalising names] has been decided on part of the opposition,” PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said while talking to The Express Tribune after the 90 minute session in Parliament house ended.

The opposition deliberated on more than 40 names -- suggested separately by the government and opposition parties – for appointment to the Election Commission of Pakistan. Four members of the commission had retired on June 13 and the top poll body has been virtually non-functional since then. The government and opposition have till July 28 to appoint new members as per the constitutional restriction of filling such slots within 45 days of vacancy.

The PTI leader added that all opposition parties agreed that the country desperately needs a completely autonomous, sovereign and independent electoral body that can hold free and fair elections in the country.



“The opposition will finalise only those names which can fulfil their constitutional obligations without any fear or favour,” Qureshi declared.

He also hinted at unbiased distribution of seats in the provinces stating that unlike past appointments, major political parties will not be allowed to appoint their ‘favourites’.

Talking to media outside the Parliament House, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said the opposition comprehensively deliberated names suggested by all sides.

“Only those names have been considered which apparently have no connection with any political party or leadership and those who can take decisions independently,” Shah said.

The opposition leader is expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif later this week for consultations on appointing new ECP members.

A senior opposition leader, who spoke to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity after attending the meeting, criticised the names suggested by the government,

“All their [government] nominees are either personal employees, legal advisors or relatives of the Sharif family.”

He said suggesting such “dubious” names reflect the government’s intentions of delaying the matter.



The combined opposition also decided to meet again on July 19 to exclusively discuss the “way forward” over the Panamagate scandal.

All the opposition parties, including the ones having no representation in Parliament, will be invited to attend the meeting. It is expected that Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) will also attend that moot.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2016.