Deadlock on appointment of CEC, ECP members persists

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on the Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was postponed till Monday without holding its session after the government and opposition made no headway.

According to sources, the deadlock between the government and opposition persisted on the name of Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad as CEC as the opposition rejected his name and insisted on the name of its nominee.

Prior of the meeting of the parliamentary committee, the government and opposition twice held informal consultation at the chamber of Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser but it ended without any result as both the sides refused to show flexibility on their stance.

Sources said the government insisted on the name of Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, who is currently Secretary Election Commission. The opposition argued that controversial elections were held in the tenure of the secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob and it could not accept his nomination as CEC.

Sources said the government rejected the opposition’s views on its nominee. As both the sides stick to their positions, it was decided to hold further discussion and to hold the meeting of the committee on Monday.