Govt, Opposition agree on ECP members, CEC

ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition are close to reach on consensus on key appointments in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and it is likelihood that both may reach on consensus on the name of Sikandar Sultan Raja, who has emerged as a hot favorite for the post of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

It is expected that final decision about the names for the post of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to be finalised and announcement is expected to be made today (Tuesday) after a meeting of Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Under the agreed formula between the government and opposition, ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan would be picked from the opposition suggested panel while the CEC from the government proposed panel.

In the government and Opposition meeting in the Speaker Chamber at Parliament House prior to meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and ECP members, both had informally finalised the name of Nisar Durani as ECP member from Sindh and Shah Mehmood Jatoi from Balochistan while the name of Sikandar Sultan emerged as hot favourite for the CEC post but the final decision about who will head the constitutional office from the panel suggested by the government and opposition would be taken after the consultation in the parliamentary Committee which is expected to be meet again today (Tuesday).

A meeting between the government and opposition was held at the Speaker Chamber and was attended by Khawaja Asif, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ms Shiza Fatima and Shahida Akhtar Ali From opposition while Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak representing the government along with Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar.

During the meeting, two names shortlisted for the CEC and Dr Sikandar Sultan Raja has emerged as hot favourite for CEC after the informal consultation between the government and the opposition.

Earlier in day, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif Monday responded the letter of Prime Minister Imran Khan and forwarded the fresh names of Irfan Qadir, Ikhlaq Tarar and Nasir Mehmood Khosa for CEC.

Prime Minister Imran Khan a few days back suggested the fresh names to opposition leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif including Jamil Ahmed, Fazal Abbass Mekan and Sikandar Sultan Raja for CEC stating that he was sending these names for meaningful consultation on the matter.

With the exchange of fresh names between the government and opposition, sources hinted both were close to pick the name of new Chief Election Commissioner in a meeting of Parliamentary Committee scheduled to be held today (Thursday) as both government and opposition had reached on consensus on key posts and likely to be announced today (Tuesday) after the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee.

In the new panel, Shahbaz Sharif gave a fresh name of ex-attorney general Irfan Qadir proposed by the PPP, while removing the name of ex-foreign secretary Jalil Abbass Jillani from the panel.

Responding to letter of the prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif by proposing three names for CEC stated that he was sending these names for meaningful consultation as the matter had been pending since long and they wanted to resolve this issue.

The government and opposition had already agreed on the names of the ECP members.