MPs’ body finalises amendments to appoint CEC, ECP members

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) on Monday finalised the draft bill for bringing a constitutional amendment for the appointment of chief election commissioner (CEC) and members of the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) under which a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a person qualified to be a judge of the Supreme Court or a senior government servant or a technocrat could be considered for the post of members and the CEC.

“The meeting had detailed discussion on broadening of the criteria for the appointment of ECP chairman and members and would meet on Tuesday again to finalise the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill,” said Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms Senator Ishaq Dar while talking to newsmen here on Monday after chairing the 17th meeting of the committee.

It is expected that after getting approval from the PCER, the proposed amendment bill for the appointment of ECP members and CEC would be presented in the National Assembly for approval.

At the outset, minutes of the 16th meeting of the committee were shared with all the members.The meeting later had further deliberations on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill concerning the ECP.

During the last meeting of the committee, it was decided that members might have consultations with their party leadership and revert to the committee in the next meeting with their inputs for any changes in the proposed amendments.Members of various political parties, accordingly, shared their views on the amendments with the meeting.