'CEC can stay on till successor is appointed'

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ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar has said the incumbent chief election commissioner (CEC), Sikander Sultan Raja, can continue to perform his duties until the appointment of his successor, according to the Constitution.

"The new CEC will be appointed in line with the Constitution, which also allows a CEC to continue doing his job until a new CEC is appointed," Tarar said in a statement on Friday.

The constitutional term of the CEC is going to end on January 26 and the leaders of opposition in the National Assembly and the Senate, Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, have already written separate letters, demanding formation of a parliamentary committee to review nominations to fill the key position.

In his letter to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Omar called for gearing up the efforts for the appointment of the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) members from Sindh and Balochistan, as their tenures are also going to expire on January 26.

Referring to Article 213 of the Constitution, he urged the formation of the parliamentary committee as soon as possible to initiate the CEC's appointment process, stating that there should be no delay under any circumstances.

Shibli Faraz in his letter to Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani also emphasised the need for the formation of the parliamentary and to fill slots of the two members from Sindh and Balochistan.

Article 213 states that the prime minister shall, in consultation with the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, forward three names for appointment of the CEC to a parliamentary committee for hearing and confirmation of any one person.

"Provided that in case there is no consensus between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, each shall forward separate lists to the Parliamentary Committee for consideration which may confirm any one name.