Pakistan opposition pushes for timely appointment of new election chief

Pakistan's opposition has written to the chairpersons of the Senate and National Assembly, urging the formation of a parliamentary committee to appoint a new chief election commissioner before Sikandar Sultan Raja's term concludes on January 26.

“In pursuance of Article 213 (2A) and (2B) of the Constitution, it is kindly requested to constitute the parliamentary committee on the appointment of the chief election commissioner at your earliest convenience to facilitate this important constitutional requirement,” the letter stated.

Under Article 215 of the Constitution, the prime minister is required to begin consultations with the opposition leader for the appointment. However, this process has yet to be initiated. Despite Raja's term ending, recent amendments to the Constitution allow him and other outgoing members to continue their roles until successors are appointed.

Copy of letter sent to National Assembly speaker by opposition leader Omar Ayub.Nukta

The procedure for appointing the election commissioner and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is detailed in the Constitution. Key points include:

• Consultations: The prime minister must propose three candidates to the opposition leader. If an agreement is not reached, the matter is referred to a parliamentary committee.
• Parliamentary Committee Formation: The Speaker of the National Assembly forms a 12-member committee, with equal representation from the government and opposition. Two-thirds of the members are drawn from the National Assembly and one-third from the Senate.
• Deadlines: Article 215 (4) mandates completing the appointment process within 45 days of a vacancy.

Eligibility criteria for the chief election commissioner include former Supreme Court judges, technocrats, and bureaucrats under 68 years of age. For Election Commission of Pakistan members, the maximum age is 65.

The opposition insists that timely appointments are essential to ensure the smooth functioning of the election body, particularly as members from Sindh and Balochistan are also set to complete their terms alongside the chief election commissioner. With no consultations initiated, concerns are growing over potential delays in filling these critical roles.