ISLAMABAD: Deadlock of months between the Government and the opposition on the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) breaked as both sides have reached consensus to appoint Sikandar Sultan Raja as the new head of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Both the government and the opposition also agreed to Nisar Durrani as the ECP member from Sindh, while Shah Muhammad Jatoi will fill the vacant slot for Balochistan.
“It is good that Parliament itself decided the matter and no other institution was involved in the matter,” Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said as she announced the decision. “The names will be sent to the prime minister today for finalization.”
“Both sides showed flexibility and this is a good omen,” senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said after the announcement.
It was clear from yesterday meeting that the two sides have reached on final decision on the key appointments would be formally announced today (Tuesday).
The announcement was eventually made after a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the CEC and members of the ECP.
Ot was reported that committee had agreed that the opposition panel would name candidates for the vacant seats of ECP members from Balochistan and Sindh, while government members would name the election commission chief.
However, the final decision regarding who will head the commission was to be decided after consultation in the parliamentary committee today.
Earlier in a meeting held at the Parliament House on Monday, both the government and the opposition agreed to the name of Nisar Durrani as the ECP member from Sindh, while Shah Mehmood Jatoi will fill the vacant slot for Balochistan.
However, the final decision regarding who will head the commission would be decided after consultation in the parliamentary committee, which is expected to be meet again Tuesday (today).
The exchange of new names showed that both the parties were close to finalising a new CEC in a meeting of Parliamentary Committee scheduled to be held today.
In the new panel, Shehbaz Sharif proposed the names of ex-attorney general Irfan Qadir and removed former foreign secretary Jalil Abbass Jillani from the panel.
The post of the CEC is lying vacant since the retirement of Justice (retd) Sardar Raza on December 6, last year, whereas the positions of the two ECP members have been empty for a year now.
Read more: Deadlock persists over filling of posts in election commission
