The government is in a fix over the appointment of new chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) fearing that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may object to the appointment ahead of the expected constitution of the proposed Judicial Commission to probe the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.
Official sources privy to the development told Business Recorder though many candidates had been interviewed for the post, the government has not yet taken a principled decision to finalise a name for the post amid the ongoing controversy over alleged rigging in last general elections and Nadra's role in vote verification.
For about last one year, the authority is without a permanent chairman following the resignation of its former chairman Tariq Malik, which was followed by appointment of Imtiaz Tajwar as acting chairman. Since Tajwar has recently been promoted to grade 22 and posted as executive director/secretary National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) with additional charge of the NADRA affairs, the sources said that the appointment of a new chairman has become inevitable.
"But the government may not make appoint permanent chairman for the time being because of the political development," an official source said, adding that any appointment at this stage may invite PTI objection, as the government has resumed dialogue process to resolve the issues pertaining to the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.
The sources said that Nadra's role will be crucial if the proposed judicial commission is formed and it orders votes verification through thumb impression. It is to be mentioned here that the government has already requested the Supreme Court to constitute a judicial commission to probe the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections. However, the government and PTI are yet to work out the terms of references of the commission and other matters pertaining to rigging probe.