ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Parliamentary Committee on Monday agreed on four names of members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), averting the Constitutional deadlock as today (July 25) was the last day for appointing members according to the Constitution.
In its session on appointment of ECP members held in Islamabad on Monday, the 12-member Parliamentary Committee headed by Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed agreed on names of Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi from Punjab, Abdul Ghafoor Soomro from Sindh, Irshad Qaiser from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Shakeel Baloch from Balochistan as new members of ECP.
The Parliament Committee gave its consent in the light of the recommendations forwarded by the federal government and the opposition which earlier had given 12 names each for membership of ECP to the Speaker National Assembly Office.
Both the sides included three members each from every province in their respective 12-name list for consideration and appointment of members of Election Commission.
Four members of the ECP retired on June 10 and as per 22nd Constitutional amendment, new members were to be appointed within 45 days of the vacancy, which in this case was ending today (July 25).
Earlier on Thursday, talking to media outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, the Federal Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said that efforts would be made to have unanimously one name from both the government and opposition sides.
Ishaq Dar said that the procedure of appointment of members of ECP would be held in accordance of rules. He said that the consensus of the prime minister and the opposition leader was necessary to fill such vacancies.
Punjab’s ECP member appointed without PTI’s consent: Imran
Meanwhile in his response on appointment of ECP members, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that appointment of Punjab’s ECP member was carried out without PTI’s consent. He said that PTI proposed Tariq Khosa’s name for Punjab.
However, the information minister brushed aside reservation of Imran Khan regarding appointment of Punjab’s ECP member said that the PTI Chief should read the Constitution.
Pervaiz Rasheed said that the negotiations over appointment of ECP members were carried out according to the Constitution.
