ISLAMABAD: The deadlock between the government and opposition over the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) persisted as Parliamentary Committee meeting was postponed till today (Thursday) evening.
According to sources, the deadlock between the government and opposition over the formula of the appointment of the CEC and ECP members persisted as the government wanted to take the matter of appointment of ECP members first then the matter of CEC appointment but the opposition was of the opinion that the matter of all the three posts should be taken simultaneously not separately.
The PML-N has also rejected the names of the government for the post of Chief Election Commissioner. Instead of the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee, a consultative meeting was held at the Speaker Chamber in which the PML-N opposed the name of Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad as a Chief Election Commissioner while expressing reservations over his nomination.
The sources said the PML-N was of the view that the PML-N held Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob responsible for the rigging in the election and the failure of the RTS system and if they accepted his name, the PML-N narrative on rigging charges will be affected.
Sources said the PML-N was of the view if the member from Balochistan was to be of PTI, PPP nominee for member ECP from Sindh then the PML-N have a right that their nominee be selected for the post of Chief Election Commissioner.
Sources said as the deadlock persisted between the government and opposition on the key appointments, it was decided to hold the session of the parliamentary committee on Thursday and the government will also come with consulting the prime minister on this issue.
As the deadlock still persisted so it was decided to postpone the Wednesday meeting of the committee without holding its session and now it will meet today (Thursday). Talking with the newsmen at the Parliament House, Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that it was decided in the previous meeting of the committee that matter of appointment of all the three posts will be taken simultaneously but today the government came out with the proposal to take up the matter of appointments of members first but they refused.
He said, “We are of the opinion that all the three appointments be decided simultaneously but if the government wanted to decide the members issue first, the Chief Election Commissioner should be through consensus as we have a mandate. But the government has to seek advice from the prime minister on every issue,” he said adding that the attitude of the prime minister is non-serious.
He said, “We still not agree on the name of Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad as he was ECP secretary and conducted 2018 elections and failed to tell how the RTS system collapsed. “Though he was capable officer and we have no personal issue with him but it was time that results were changed in 2018,” he said.
