Shahbaz proposes names for CEC slot

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif has proposed three names to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

Shahbaz Sharif has proposed the names of Nasir Mehmood Khosa, Jalil Abbas Jilani and Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar in a letter stating therein that these honourable personalities are fully capable and appropriate for the slot of CEC.

It may be noted that the tenure of sitting CEC is going to expire on December 6. Shahbaz has written in the letter to the PM that it is a requirement of Article 213 of the Constitution that the PM should consult the opposition leader for the appointment of the CEC.

Shahbaz maintained that PM should have initiated this process of consultation a long time ago. "I am starting this procedure to prevent the ECP from getting non-functional," Shahbaz said.

Shahbaz in another letter proposed three names each from Sindh and Balochistan for their nominations as the ECP members. From Sindh, Shahbaz has suggested Nisar Durrani, former Justice Abdul Rasul Memon and Aurangzeb Haq. The names of Advocate Supreme Court Shah Muhammad Jatoi, former advocate general Muhammad Rauf Atta and Rahila Durrani have been proposed by the PML-N president from Balochistan.

When the attention of PM Imran Khan was drawn towards Shahbaz's letter, Imran Khan said he has not so far seen this. Moreover, PML-N leaders Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Uzma Bukhari and Mohammad Pervaiz Malik in a press conference rejected 4th time hike in electricity tariff by the PTI government and demanded withdrawal of this increase saying the people cannot afford brunt of this surge.

"This raise in electricity tariff would lead in increase in electricity theft which is not good omen," they said. "With devaluation of Pak rupee, there is unprecedented inflation, poor economic situation and one million people rendered jobless."

Ahsan Iqbal asked the PTI government to stop doing politics on national issues. Army is institution for the whole nation and the incumbent government should avoid taking hide behind the army and COAS to cover up its failure and inefficiency, he said. The incumbent government should show maturity on national issues, he said.

He also criticised the incumbent government for stopping funds for development projects which rendered them sick projects due to surge in their cost. Ahsan held PM responsible for all failures and wondered on which count the PM is praising the bureaucracy. "Why there is major reshuffle in bureaucracy?" He said the ministers issued irresponsible statements on CPEC which were quoted by the US diplomat.

Expressing serious concern over situation in Kashmir, Ahsan said the incumbent government had showed gross failure on Kashmir. How many visits of Islamic countries were made by the PM and Foreign Minister, he wondered. The government should declare diplomatic emergency on Kashmir, he said.