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Pakistan opposition urges immediate appointment of new election chief
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Elections & Politics

Pakistan opposition urges immediate appointment of new election chief

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Pakistan's opposition leader, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint a new chief election commissioner and two members for the Election Commission of Pakistan.
  • Achakzai highlighted that the constitutional terms for these positions ended on January 26, 2025, and their immediate filling is crucial for the commission's credibility.
  • He cited constitutional articles requiring consultation between the prime minister and the opposition leader for these appointments.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the opposition leader in Pakistan's National Assembly, has formally called for the "immediate appointment" of a new chief election commissioner and two ECP members representing Sindh and Balochistan. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Achakzai emphasized the "critical constitutional duty" to fill these vacant posts.

immediate filling

— Mehmood Khan AchakzaiAchakzai urged the prime minister to fill the vacant positions in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The statutory tenure for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the members representing Sindh and Balochistan concluded on January 26, 2025. Achakzai stressed that filling these offices promptly is "essential for maintaining the operational continuity, independence, and credibility of the commission." He referenced specific constitutional provisions, including Article 213(2A), which mandates consultation between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition for CEC appointments, and Article 218(2)(b) for the appointment of ECP members.

essential for maintaining the operational continuity, independence, and credibility of the commission

— Mehmood Khan AchakzaiAchakzai explained the importance of promptly appointing new election officials.

Achakzai also raised the issue at a meeting of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), informing participants about his letter. The meeting participants reportedly expressed "astonishment and concern" that the current CEC and members continue to serve beyond their constitutional terms without the prime minister initiating the appointment process. They deemed the establishment of an "impartial and independent EC essential for fair, transparent, and free elections."

astonishment and concern over the fact that the current CEC and members continue to serve even after the expiry of their constitutional terms

— TTAP meeting participantsParticipants in a TTAP meeting expressed surprise regarding the prolonged service of current election officials.

The incumbent CEC, Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with the ECP members for Sindh and Balochistan, have been serving for over a year past their five-year constitutional terms. While a constitutional amendment allows them to continue until successors are appointed, the delay in initiating the process has been noted. The appointments were required within 45 days of the positions becoming vacant, by March 12, 2025. The delay was partly attributed to the absence of an officially notified leader of the opposition in the National Assembly at the time.

impartial and independent EC essential for fair, transparent, and free elections

— TTAP meeting participantsThe TTAP meeting participants emphasized the need for an unbiased Election Commission.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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