PML-N wants no PCO judge in electoral body

Chaudhry Nisar says he will call for appointing impartial people on the ECP.

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission should comprise impartial personalities and people with impeccable reputations, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said he will write in response to a list of names forwarded by the prime minister on Supreme Court orders.

Raising serious objections over the nominations sent by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the PML-N said that ECP members should not have the stigma of taking oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).

Talking to media persons at the National Assembly, he said that ECP members should be of good repute.

The prime minister’s nominations included names of PCO judges for inclusion in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Nisar Ali Khan said that he would respond to the prime minister over the issue on Tuesday (May 31) via a letter.

Expressing serious reservations on the incumbent head of the commission, he said: “We want impartial personalities to be inducted so that no one can raise a finger on their conduct.”

Earlier this month, the apex court had directed the government to resolve issue of ECP appointments. Following the orders of the apex court, the prime minister had sent names of retired high court judges, three from each province, to the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly for appointment as members of the ECP.

Referring to the delay in constitution of an independent commission in line with the joint resolution of parliament on the Abbottabad incursion, Chaudhry Nisar said that he would send another letter to the prime minster on Monday, May 30.

The PML-N is consulting with other opposition parties in parliament to devise a joint strategy against the government over the delay. On Monday, Chaudhry Nisar is scheduled to meet a number of leaders of opposition parties.

Urging the government to publicise his correspondence if there was no progress, he said: “We are providing the government an opportunity to honour its commitment.”

Criticising what he termed a security lapse, Chaudhry Nisar said that the terrorist attack on the PNS Mehran should be thoroughly probed, adding that elements involved in the attack should be identified. “Those who were responsible for the security lapse are conducting the inquiry.”

Referring to the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chaudhry Nisar criticised the government for striking secret deals with the US. He demanded of the government to make them public, adding that the nation should be taken into confidence on the terms of engagement with the US.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2011.