After days of negotiations, the two sides had managed to come to an agreement over the term of the Chief Election Commissioner on Tuesday, though a deadlock over the caretaker set-up remained.
However, interlocutors from both sides had emerged upbeat after that second meeting, claiming that a compromise was within arm’s reach, while announcing that the talks were to continue.
The government had agreed to the Oppositions demand to not seek an extension for the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza when his term expires next month.
Team Government, led by Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Ali Shah, did not commit itself to bidding farewell to Mirza, whom the opposition termed a ‘partial’ individual who was a ‘handpicked’ choice of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Simultaneously, it was not clear whether the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had also conceded another opposition demand of making it binding for the government to appoint a new CEC with the ‘approval’ of the opposition leader in the National Assembly.
COMMENTS (19)
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@Dr saddique: it is remarkable that PTI trolls have no idea on legislation making, If PML-N is insisting on an indepent Election Commission why is that pinching the PTI trolls so much?????
Enough is enough! The only legislation that appears to ever get passed in the Parliament relates to the Constitution. Only in Pakistan do we change it so often and only to the benefit of corrupt Parliamentarians.
@Realist.: I could not have said it better. It is not the govt or PM but the continuation of democracy. Thanks and regards, Mirza
@Muddassir: THIS Parliament has done what no other parliament has been able to do in last 6 decades! THIS parliament recovered more than 115 Billion rupees! THIS parliament did NFC , 18th amendment , 19th amendment , harassment laws & more! & yeah remember Parliament does not mean Government! I have No sympathy for the government but i BELIEVE in this system i-e Parliamentary Democracy!
Full support for fair and free elections, and an 100 percent neutral election machinery.with no extension to the present Chairman++ BUT how to legitimize the fake degree holders and those who have knowingly opted to use fake electoral rolls, win elections warm seats, do nothing for the people, watch corruption in its full glory ??, claim the development fund, which they never use for welfare and their cases open only when they are gone to distant lands.any unanimity for the upholding of the just and equitable system is welcome, but again a big NO to the wrong doings. if we cannot do anything by our hands, we can write for tothers to read and still if we cannot we can feel bad, which is the last resort,in our humble command??
@ihtisham: We dont know the full text of the proposed amendment yet! & let me say this clearly Like the CEC said suspending by-elections & membership of is UNCONSTITUTIONAL on part of Chief justice! if he believes all the lists were bogus or fake , i DARE him to suspend the full assembly! Democracy is no joke plz! Supreme court should remain in limits of its constitutional role!
would both ppp & pml(n) bother to pass an ammendment for the betterment of the poor pakistanis. ans is a big NO.
I see lot of disappointed people who were looking for a clash of institutions and breakdown of elected govt and parliament. Sorry folks, this is the way democracy works, live with it till the next elections. All parties are showing maturity in the NA, a good omen for the future.
@Realist: Lagislation for what purpose, Just to reinstate the 28 paliamentarians elected on fake voters list & suspended by Supreme Court. I have no words to explain this politics of reconciliation in pakistan. Both ppp & pml(n) is doing 20th ammendment to reinstate their suspended parliamentarians.
CAN anyone writing praises for these developments re 29th amendment ensure that after this so-called 'Independent Election Commission' there will not be any rigging in the polls?????
Let's continue to live is fool's paradise!!!!
Bravo. This is a very welcome development from both the PPP and PML(N) for an Independant Election Commission to hold free and fair elections in 2013. Thanks to both parties for this highly esteemed 20th Amendment.
@Dr saddique
And what do you think is the opposition is supposed to do? Unsheath daggers and behead Zardari? LOL
First please go and learn how legislation is done in countries like Sweden, Norway, UK.
Bi-Partisan support for certain legislations, especially for legislation concerning the election commission is common practice all over the world.
In USA there is a bi-partisan congressional commitee having members from both the Democrats and Republicans which is working to reduce USA's budget deficit.
I have only one mind boggling question : How can one justify wrong voters list, instead of blame game why not correctthe same, while sacrificing ONCE????? Will someone answer, w/o faulty and non acceptable arguments ???
It is a eyewash, earwash, sheer waste of time. PML(n) has a usual habit of making a noise then succumbing to the GREEN card, supposedly held by PPP referees, who show it to him,Hats off to the journalists and anchors, who have predicted, that there is some sort of an agreement between the two. I think Pml (N) is waiting for their turn, which may never come,with the double play they are playing. The nation is a loser, the cost is being borne by the nation on what we see everyday. Even the heartless should shudder, what use is the seat, when you cannot justify?? With the growing greed people are forgetting that they are answerable. Reminder be given and the Maulanas, who are too busy should also preach and practice thge right message of the Holy Quran and Sunnah
LEGISLATION has nothing to do with corruption! PTI trolls please LEARN what legislators are supposed to do! the demands from Opposition for independent election commission n a care-taker government are legitimate. it is DEMOCRACY, Assembly must do legislation!
Zardari to NS:
'Mian sb, Pehlay Saadi, fir taudi vaari'
Seriously, even the Kings in the history never ruled like this for decades the way these two and their younger versions are ruling Pakistan.
Nawaz Shareef u always worked as a right hand for PPP, You have no bright future
Now again the PPP and PML-N agreed on the 20th amendment. Both parties have same agenda of ' Save corruption and make corruption'. If nation want to save Pakistan than dissolve them other wise Pakistan will dissolve.