CEC, members be appointed by Supreme Court: Siraj

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq has suggested changes in the appointment procedure of the Chief Election Commissioner and members of the ECP, proposing that they be appointed by the Supreme Court.

While sharing the electoral reforms draft prepared by the JI with the media here Wednesday, he expressed concerns over the existing laws under which the CEC was being appointed after consensus between the prime minister and the opposition leader. “We must end political interference in the ECP and fully empower it to conduct free and fair elections,” he added.

He rejected the Election (Amendment) Act 2020 being controversial and a conspiracy of the government to rig the next polls, questioning the government intention which first introduced the act and now was asking the political parties for consultation. He, however, announced the JI was in favour of introducing electronic voting machines and giving right of vote to overseas Pakistanis. He said true democracy could be established by introducing the concept of proportional representation and at least 50 percent members of the assemblies should be appointed through it.

He said the state should fund the capable and top professionals to take part in election in case they had limited resources. He said the political parties which did not agree to conduct intra-party polls under the strict monitoring of the ECP should be banned from contesting elections.

The media and elections observers should be allowed to independently monitor the polling process, but media should avoid running the campaign of any particular party or trend during the election, he added. Sirajul Haq said the JI wanted the implementation of Article 62 and 63 in letter and spirit and there must be a proper monitoring of election expenditures by the candidates.

He said the political parties should start consultation to end the role of establishment in the elections which was also in the larger interest of the establishment.