Govt, opposition agree to consider new names for key ECP appointments: report

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary committee tasked with appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to hold a meeting next week in a bid to break the deadlock over the appointments, reported The News.

According to The News, contacts were made between the government and opposition to break the deadlock. Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who represents the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), told The News that the government has indicated that it will give a new name for chief election commissioner (CEC). 

New names being considered for post of CEC, ECP members: report

“We are waiting for the fresh names from the government for the CEC and once these come up, the opposition will also decide on the matter,” he said. Ashraf further said that it was communicated to the government that the CEC should be a person with an unblemished record. 

The former prime minister added he had proposed the name of renowned lawyer Irfan Qadir for the post. “So far we are waiting for their recommendations, and if the government name comes up on merit and is suitable, it could be considered,” he said.

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Last week, a source had told The News that, “Neither side is willing to accept the other’s proposals, and hence the deadlock continues, which may be broken with the new recommendations.”

The source further said that the government is insistent on choosing Babar Yaqoob Fateh as the CEC while the opposition is equally adamant not to agree to his choice.

Originally published in The News