FPSC Amendment Bill 2014: Govt paves way for CEC appointment

Amendment in FPSC law will allow govt to appoint Bhagwandas as new poll chief.

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Friday introduced a bill suggesting amendments in the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) Ordinance 1977, apparently to pave way for the appointment of the FPSC former chairman, Justice (retired) Rana Bhagwandas as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

The post of the CEC fell vacant after Fakhruddin G Ebrahim resigned in July last year. The slot was first filled by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, who was replaced upon his appointment as the chief justice of Pakistan by apex court’s senior judge Justice Nasirul Mulk

However, on February 19, 2014, a two-judge bench of the apex court – headed by Justice Saqib Nisar – directed the government to appoint a permanent chief of the CEC within one month.

Zahid Hamid, federal minister for science and technology, moved the FPSC Amendment Bill 2014 seeking amendment to the FPSC Ordinance 1977, which bars reappointment of any member or chairman of the commission in services of Pakistan.



“….the president may allow further employment of such member to a constitutional office in public interest,” reads the suggested amendment in section 5 of the FPSC Ordinance 1977.

Although her party did not oppose the bill, Dr Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) raised objection to the proposed amendment.  “This person-specific legislation is very bad precedent,” she said.

Dialogue with militants

Speaking on the current law and order, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah urged the government not to include Pakistan army in the dialogue process with the Taliban.

“If the talks with the Taliban fail to yield any result, the burden of failure will be on (the shoulders of) the army,” he said.

Shah said armed forces were subordinate of the defence ministry and the prime minister. “The role of the army is clearly defined in the Constitution,” he said, adding that the forces were duty-bound to obey what the prime minister would order them.

Media reports had earlier suggested that the government was going to include members of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan army in the negotiation committee to initiate dialogue with the Taliban.

The leader of the opposition also criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and said he (Nisar) was reluctant to take his party into confidence over the issue of terrorism and militancy.

“The government should create conducive environment in parliament to run the business smoothly and fairly,” he said, adding that his party would continue supporting the government on the issue of terrorism, provided they were taken into confidence.

Responding to the points raised by leader of the opposition, Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said the government was fully aware of the constitutional responsibilities of Pakistan army and was dealing with the institution accordingly.

“Today, the army is neither conducting dialogue (with the militants) nor taking decision of the military operation against them,” he said.

The minister said the army was also not formulating the country’s foreign policy and the government had taken charge of all its constitutional responsibilities.

“The opposition is not friendly but experienced,” he said, adding the government would take all appropriate steps to restore peace in the country.

Disaster in Thar

Speaking on a point of order, MNA Lal Chand said the Sindh government, showing criminal negligence, was taking no action.

The Pakistan Peoples Party MNA, Shazia Marri, however, contradicted him and said the Sindh government was taking every possible step to deal with the situation. “These are malnutrition and maternity related issues, but we will not leave the people of Thar area alone,” she claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2014.