The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Ministry of Law and Justice will meet to discuss the matters relating to the caretaker government along with other tangible issues pertaining to general election. Sources in the Commission said that Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H Naek and Chief Election Commission of Pakistan (CEC) will meet in January but the schedule of the meeting is yet to be fixed.
Matters related to caretaker government are likely to come under discussion, sources said. Recently held meeting of the commission and Ministry of Law and Justice, exchanged views on caretaker set up and other matters in this regard, sources said.
Although, it was not mandatory under the Constitution of Pakistan to consult the ECP on the date of general election, the government opined that the date of election would be finalised after keeping in view the preparation of the commission for election, sources said.
As the ruling coalition government is going to complete its five-year term by March 18, 2013, it is yet to start formal discussion with opposition parties to put a neutral caretaker set-up in place for holding next general elections. Though informal discussions within the political parties are taking place to consider various names for the caretaker set-up but, informed sources said that it will take some time to start formal consultation process.
Under the constitution, when the mandate of the sitting government ends, a caretaker set-up has to be appointed to hold a general election within 90 days. Despite the assurance of General Kayani, analysts while citing the current law and order situation and the country's poor economy opined that it would be the first experience of the new caretaker Prime Minister if he would succeed in holding the next general elections within the given constitutional tenure.
Back-channel contacts between the two parties regarding selection of a caretaker set-up- the Naek-Asif duo were also reported. Former Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Kanwar Dilshad said that the Constitution allows the caretaker Prime Minister to get extension for one year from the Supreme Court in case the country's law and order situation does not allow going into the general elections.
Responding to a question about nomination of caretaker cabinet, he said that it will be done by the caretaker prime minister and no political party can influence him to pick a man of their choice. The 20th Amendment provides for the appointment of a caretaker prime minister by the president in consultation with the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the outgoing National Assembly. In case the outgoing prime minister and leader of opposition do not agree on any name within three days after dissolution of the National Assembly, each of them will forward two names to a parliamentary committee to be immediately constituted by the National Assembly Speaker to decide on a name within three days. Otherwise, the names will be referred to the Election Commission which will take the final decision within two days. A similar procedure is to be followed in the provinces. The major opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has already started discussing some neutral names for the interim set-up with other opposition parties.