As per directions of the Constitution, a 12-member parliamentary committee is meeting today to finalise names of four persons to be appointed as members of the Election Commission of Pakistan. The ECP has been non-functional after expiry of five-year terms of its four members-one each from four provinces-on June 12, 2016. The constitution mandates the government to complete the election commission by filling the offices of its members within the stipulated period of 45 days which in this case is falling on July 25.
It may be recalled that the government and the opposition have separately submitted their lists containing 24 probable names with the National Assembly Speaker. For appointment as members of the ECP.
The 12-member parliamentary committee having equal representation from both sides of the House will take up the matter today (Monday) for final selection of candidates. The two lists containing 12 names of probable ECP members each.
Addressing a joint press conference, Opposition leader Khurshid said "as consensus could not be achieved with the government on the issue, a list consisting of names of 12-members (three each from each province) from the opposition leader is forwarded to the Speaker National Assembly for consideration of the parliamentary committee.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the government had also forwarded 12 names for consideration by the parliamentary committee. The committee will meet at 10.30am today (July 25) to pick one name for appointment as ECP member from the respective province. He hoped that a notification for the appointment of ECP members would be issued today (Monday).
It may be added that there are several petitions pending before the incomplete ECP including the one filed by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for concealment of assets with the Election Commission of Pakistan.
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