PTI govt to request IHC for more time to resolve ECP issue

Decision comes as deadlock persists between govt, opposition over appointment of CEC, ECP members

ISLAMABAD: The Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker have decided to request the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday (today) to grant 10 more days for the appointment of the chief election commissioner and the ECP members as a series of meetings between the government and opposition members for the purpose remained inconclusive.

It comes as the 10-day deadline given earlier by the IHC for resolving the issue expired on Monday.

The decision was taken after another meeting held in the NA speaker’s chamber on Monday failed to nominate candidates for the posts of CEC and ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, head of the parliamentary committee tasked with appointing the CEC and ECP members, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for Development and Planning Asad Omar, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati, State Minister Ali Muhammad Khan, Naseebullah Bazai and Syed Fakhr Imam from the government’s side, and Senator Mushahidullah Khan, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PPP’s Naveed Qamar, JUI’s Shahida Akhtar Ali, Senator Sikandar Mandhro and Nisar Cheema from the opposition’s side.
Talking to the media after the meeting, former PM Ashraf and Senator Mushahidullah said all parties agreed that parliament should decide regarding the appointments.

Ashraf said, “We had an informal consultation in which many aspects were considered.

“The government is going to court to seek more time as further consultations are required to resolve the issue.”

The former PM said it was a healthy trend in politics that they were trying to understand each other's perspectives.

To a question regarding the nomination of incumbent ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob for the CEC slot, he said, “No one has any objection over his character, while other names are also being considered.”

Mushahidullah said, “All of the parties have agreed that the matter should be resolved in parliament and hopefully progress will soon be made.

“If the Islamabad High Court gives more time, another meeting might be held again on Tuesday.”