PML-N enjoys final say in MPs body on ECP

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has already finalised the names for the ECP members on behalf of the prime minister and Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah but wants them approved and announced by the Parliamentary Committee, it is learnt.

In his speech to the electoral reforms body he had clearly stated that the government and opposition lists sent to the National Assembly had at least one common name from each province and these are respectable names having integrity and professional repute.

As the matter has been referred to the Parliamentary Committee, the PML-N is expected to enjoy a free ride since the decision will be taken by a majority vote and the PML-N along with its five members and two others representing the PKMAP and NP out of 12 members is set to carry the day for itself.

The News has learnt that the PPP and PML-N had agreed to nominate a former female bureaucrat from Sindh and now sitting member of the Federal Public Service Commission. But she can’t be posted to any service with the government of Pakistan after joining as the FPSC member.

According to Section 5 of the FPSC Act, on ceasing to hold office, “a member shall not be eligible for further employment in the service of Pakistan”. 

This section was inserted in the FPSC Act through an amendment in 2000. In the past the government and opposition had finalized the name of Rana Bhagwandas for the ECE but he couldn’t be appointed due to this clause.

The government had offered to amend the rules to post the late Rana Bhagwandas as the CEC but he refused. His point of view was that it was morally incorrect that rules should be amended to facilitate just one person. 

Now a political party has also contacted Amjad Nazir, sitting member of the FPSC, for his nomination as the ECP member from KP but he refused due to Section 5 of the FPSC restriction.

The News has learnt that another name from Sindh agreed upon by both parties is Nargis Sethi, a bureaucrat of good repute. She is a grade 22 officer and serving as chairperson State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan. 

Previously, she served as additional secretary Cabinet Division and DG at the President’s Secretariat. Similarly, the only name finalised by the PML-N and PPPP is Justice (retd) Shakil Baloch from Balochistan. He has recently resigned. The News has learnt that he resigned after getting a nod from his political bosses in Balochistan for his nomination as an ECP member.

Presently, in the 12-member committee, the PML-N has five members who are Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid (Chairman), Law Minister Zahid Hamid, MNAs Dr Darshan, Junaid Iqbal Chaudhry and Arshad Leghari. 

Kabir Khan represents the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Daud Achakzai the National Party (both allies of the PML-N in the federal and Balochistan governments). Whereas the PPP has three votes in the committee which are Nawab Yousaf Talpur, Shazia Marri and Islamuddin Sheikh. 

The PTI and MQM have one vote each. In this formation, the PML-N with the support of the PKMAP and NP will have seven votes, which is the required number to decide the issue. If the PPP, PTI and MQM get united in the committee (which is unlikely) even then the government can impose its decision.

Sources in the PPP confided to this correspondent that the PML-N and PPP will have their nominees in Punjab and Sindh respectively elected as ECP members, as has happened in past. 

The News has learnt that the PML-N is also trying to please the PPP and accept its nominee for the ECP member from Sindh. 

In case the PPP demanded more then the N-league, the PKMAP and NP have a comfortable majority to make the decision.

In Sindh, the PML-N doesn’t have much interest. In Balochistan, the PKMAP and NP will have their nominee, Justice Shakil Baloch, as the ECP member from Balochistan. 

The committee will send names to the Parliamentary Affairs Division tomorrow and after approval of the president, which is mandatory, the members will be notified in the evening and they will assume their duties on Tuesday, July 26. So the ECP will be the same as it was at the time of the 2013 general elections.