CEC’s appointment: Govt to seek extension in SC deadline

Ishaq Dar says the appointment of new ECP boss could take up to 10 days

ISLAMABAD:

Hours before a Supreme Court deadline expired, the government decided to seek more time for the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC) as a consensus candidate could not emerge during consultations with the opposition. 

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar admitted on Wednesday that the government would not be able to meet the November 13 deadline set by the Supreme Court for CEC’s appointment – which expires today. “The government is not in a position to meet the deadline and it has to seek an extension [in the deadline],” he told a news conference.



While giving an extension in its earlier deadline that expired on October 28, Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk had warned that if the government couldn’t appoint a CEC by November 13, the top court would withdraw its judge Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali who is serving as acting CEC. The Supreme Court will be taking up the case today (Thursday).

The finance minister said the government and the Pakistan Peoples Party have been trying to come up with one list of shortlisted candidates which will be subsequently sent to the 12-member parliamentary committee on CEC appointment. “It could take seven to 10 days,” he added.

Political parties have proposed the names of several retired judges but a consensus could not be evolved due to growing political polarisation.

The delay in the appointment of CEC is affecting the performance of the Election Commission of Pakistan where two top slots are currently vacant. ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan retired on November 4. A letter has already been written to the prime minister requesting him to propose three names from the top bureaucracy so that the commission could pick one for the post.

However, the government has decided not to send the list till the new CEC is appointed, according to sources. “The CEC and secretary have very important roles in the ECP. They need to have a close working relationship for smooth functioning of the commission. CEC’s input is vital to this appointment. Best way would be to wait till the new CEC takes office,” a close aide to the prime minister said.

In the absence of a secretary, the ECP has given acting charge to a junior officer. Usman Ali, a Grade 20 officer who is working as director general administration, has been given acting charge as secretary.

Interestingly, two other top bureaucrats in the ECP, its provincial election commissioner Punjab Mehboob Anwar and its provincial head in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sonu Khan Baloch will also be retiring next month unless they are given further extensions.

Political economy

On the economic front, the finance minister brushed aside criticism that the government has failed to deliver on the $6.6 billion IMF programme.

“It is not a national service to give political colour to the IMF reviews,” said Dar.  He added that he has fought with the IMF for the sake of Pakistan and convinced the global lender to waive the condition of increasing power tariffs by 89 paisa per unit.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2014.