PTI warns of protest if controversial figure appointed as CEC
PTI leader says certain nominees for the post have political affiliations
ISLAMABAD:
Voicing concerns over certain names suggested for the post of chief election commissioner (CEC), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that some of the nominees have political affiliations and that his party would protest if they are appointed.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah met Qureshi to discuss the appointment of new CEC. The Supreme Court has fixed November 16 as the deadline to fill the vacant post.
Addressing the media after consulting Qureshi, Shah said he does not want the appointment of CEC to be controversial, which is why he was meeting leaders of political parties to reach a consensus.
“Both of us (the PPP and the PTI) believe last year’s elections were not fair and we want to make the ECP an independent and impartial institution,” he said.
Reiterating PTI’s stance on 2013 general elections, Qureshi said the current election commission was controversial and not acceptable to the PTI.
“The ECP should have officials with spotless characters; with this appointment, we are laying the foundation for a better poll body,” he said.
Defending PTI’s nomination of Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid for the post, Qureshi said Zahid has an untarnished career and no one can point a finger at him.
“Zahid can never be pressurised by anyone; we think by appointing him as CEC, we will be doing a great service to Pakistan,” Qureshi added.
Nominees
Officials confirmed that Prime Minister Nawaz suggested the names of retired Supreme Court judges Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, Rana Bhagwandas and Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui for the post. The opposition leader, on the other hand, proposed only two names: Justice (retd) Mian Ajmal and Justice (retd) Tariq Pervez.
The PTI had proposed that Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid should be included in the list of candidates for CEC.
Since August last year, 13 Supreme Court judges have served as acting CECs. The apex court, in its last hearing pertaining to the matter, asked the government to appoint a permanent CEC; otherwise, they would withdraw their judge from performing as acting CEC.
If both the prime minister and opposition leader fail to agree on one name then article 213 is applicable, which states both shall send three names each to a parliamentary committee for the appointment of the CEC.
Voicing concerns over certain names suggested for the post of chief election commissioner (CEC), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that some of the nominees have political affiliations and that his party would protest if they are appointed.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah met Qureshi to discuss the appointment of new CEC. The Supreme Court has fixed November 16 as the deadline to fill the vacant post.
Addressing the media after consulting Qureshi, Shah said he does not want the appointment of CEC to be controversial, which is why he was meeting leaders of political parties to reach a consensus.
“Both of us (the PPP and the PTI) believe last year’s elections were not fair and we want to make the ECP an independent and impartial institution,” he said.
Reiterating PTI’s stance on 2013 general elections, Qureshi said the current election commission was controversial and not acceptable to the PTI.
“The ECP should have officials with spotless characters; with this appointment, we are laying the foundation for a better poll body,” he said.
Defending PTI’s nomination of Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid for the post, Qureshi said Zahid has an untarnished career and no one can point a finger at him.
“Zahid can never be pressurised by anyone; we think by appointing him as CEC, we will be doing a great service to Pakistan,” Qureshi added.
Nominees
Officials confirmed that Prime Minister Nawaz suggested the names of retired Supreme Court judges Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, Rana Bhagwandas and Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui for the post. The opposition leader, on the other hand, proposed only two names: Justice (retd) Mian Ajmal and Justice (retd) Tariq Pervez.
The PTI had proposed that Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid should be included in the list of candidates for CEC.
Since August last year, 13 Supreme Court judges have served as acting CECs. The apex court, in its last hearing pertaining to the matter, asked the government to appoint a permanent CEC; otherwise, they would withdraw their judge from performing as acting CEC.
If both the prime minister and opposition leader fail to agree on one name then article 213 is applicable, which states both shall send three names each to a parliamentary committee for the appointment of the CEC.