Appointment of CEC: PPP, PTI hold talks on formation of body

The top leadership of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf and Pakistan People's Party have discussed the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and issues pertaining to a parliamentary committee on election reforms. PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi told Business Recorder on Tuesday that since the federal government has so far forwarded no name for the slot of the CEC; therefore the meeting remained focused on procedural and other legal issues about the slot.
"We have discussed the issue of appointment of the CEC with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah," he said. Shah has assured the PTI leaders to consult them on the appointment of the CEC after the government selected some names for the position. Under the constitution, the CEC is appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
The slot of the CEC is lying vacant since Fakharuddin G Ebrahim resigned from his position after the May 11 general elections. Qureshi also said that his party has forwarded three names to the Speaker National Assembly for the parliamentary committee on the election reforms. The PTI members for the committee are Dr Shireen Mazari, Dr Arif Alvi and Shafqat Mahmood.
"We are ready to give our input in the election reforms committee but we doubt government's intentions," he said, adding that the government has yet to issue notification about the formation of election reforms committee. He said the PTI would not only continue its protest demonstrations against rigging in the general elections but would also give its input in the election reforms committee to ensure fair and free elections in the country.
"It seems as if the government is using this committee as a delaying tactics," he said, adding that the government would have to bear a heavy loss if it continued with its policies. Qureshi said the formation of the parliamentary panel is getting delayed as Chairman Senate Nayyar Bokhari wanted to send names of some Senators for the committee.