ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah shortlisted names of retired judges Sardar Muhammad Raza, Tanvir Ahmed Khan and Tariq Pervez Khan Wednesday morning for the post of chief election commissioner (CEC), Express News reported.
Supreme Court had said on November 2 that it will consider issuing contempt notices to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Shah if they fail to appoint a new CEC or nominate a candidate by December 8.
Though PM Nawaz is in London to attend a conference on Afghanistan, he is in contact with the opposition leader over the telephone to discuss this matter.
The shortlisted candidates belong to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with Sardar Raza being the most favourite for the post.
"Three names have been shortlisted and will be forwarded to NA speaker today; we will meet the December 5 deadline," said Dar, while addressing a press conference after his meeting with Shah.
The opposition leader also spoke to the media and said lengthy discussions were held to shortlist these names keeping in mind the views of other political parties.
"The process has been completed as per the Constitution and now the judges will choose the most eligible candidate for the post," he added.
Shah added that a meeting will be held to discuss the nominations at 11am on December 4.
The opposition leader also reached out to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf' (PTI) for consultation and Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said PTI has no reservations over the three names. She added that consulting all parties was important for the decision.
Further, PTI chief Imran Khan and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq met for talks in Bani Gala in which both agreed that the names put forward for the CEC position were eligible.
Addressing the media, Haq said that both Dar and Shah had called him to discuss the three names which had been put forward for the CEC position.
"Most issues have almost been resolved now and this is the only issue which remains unresolved," said Haq.
PTI leader Naeemul Haq told media representatives that Khursheed Shah telephoned Qureshi regarding the three nominations for the post of the top election chief.
“The opposition leader called Qureshi at 10:30am saying they were going to announce these three names at 11:00 am; therefore, it was merely an intimation and not consultation,” he asserted.
Regarding the nominations, the PTI leader said his party respects all three nominees but all those members of the commission who were involved in rigging in 2013 general elections should also be removed.
In this regard, PTI Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari issued a statement saying, “PTI chairman and the party hold all three gentlemen, Sardar Raza Khan, Tariq Pervez and Tanvir Ahmed Khan in the highest esteem. However, PTI feels the appointment of the CEC is insufficient in itself to establish the independence of the ECP as the CEC is merely one amongst five commissioners.”
“Unless all the commissioners are appointed in an independent manner through mutual consultation amongst all major political parties, and the ECP is reformed so that it is a truly independent body with punitive powers,” she added.
Profiles
Justice (retd) Raza hails from K-P and previously served as the civil judge and senior civil judge till May 1976 prior to his promotion to the post of additional district and sessions judge.
He was then made chief justice of Peshawar High Court in April 2000, two years after which he was appointed to the Supreme Court.
Justice (retd) Jan on the other hand was among the nominees for caretaker premier in 2013, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2012.
Justice (retd) Parvez, the former chief justice of Peshawar High Court, was named as K-P's caretaker last year.
COMMENTS (15)
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Lovely picture of two prolific liars together!
Having failed to mobilize enough persons in the last ditch attempt on 30th November, it is good to see a chastened PTI openly giving up the bizarre demand for PM's resignation and now agreeing, without reservations, on the CEC names. I wish they had seen the light of sense a few months back and millions of Pakistanis would have been saved the anxiety syndrome caused by the antics of the PTI.
@Ranjha You have probably no clue about how strong PMLN is in Punjab. Just wait and lets see. We will beat you again.
I wonder why only Judges are considered for this position. Judiciary as an institutions has alot of question marks so why they are the only one's considered?
I think the provincial member of the CEC should appointed with the consultant of that province CM and Opposition leader of that provincial assembly.
Shireen Mazari said That PTI Has No reservation on the name forwarded. Change is not coming change has come.. hahaha wow..
Mark my words. Come 2018 Elections, the very same PTI will oppose the very same Judge after losing the 2018 elections.
Merit for all key position: Old man or Judges! Why?
As much as I criticise the 18th amendment of taking CEC appointment role from the hands of Supreme Court into Government and Opposition, I would expect PTI to actively contribute and engage with the Opposition leader to have their role in the appointment of CEC. The name of Zahid Aslam given by IK was never going to work as he was also a candidate of PMLN for caretaker PM but PPP would never agree with his name for some historical events. I really hope that PTI being a key opposition party is comfortable with these three judges as they are all from KPK and honourable judges with good track record.
After all that this is what they have to show for... agree on 3 names! And now let the man on the cantainer start his diatribes tonight or tomorrow to throw spanner in the works... fun and games!
Very interesting, the delaying tactics will save the two parties from the blames as they would say the appointment has been done by the court and that the parties merely proposed some names..... Lolz
DELAY TACTICS ! Eventually BOTH Agreed on Three NAMES after LONG TIME And It will TAKE YEARS to finalize ONE NAME.
Government and opposition agree on three names, but in the picture I can only see two sides of the same coin..the real opposition is on the streets..why government has not taken any action regarding swiss latter, after one month as per Info minister they are not able to translate that latter, do they really think Pakistanis are so dumb not to understand what is going on behind this garb of government and opposition muk mukaa..