Headway Made in Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner
ISLAMABAD: After weeks of deadlock, progress has finally been made in the long-pending appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), offering hope for resolution of a key constitutional matter.
The appointment process had remained stalled due to the absence of mandatory consultations between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly — a constitutional requirement before nominations can move forward.
The impasse began when former opposition leader Omar Ayub declined to engage in consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, effectively halting the process. Without these talks, the formation of a parliamentary committee — the next step if consensus is not achieved — could not proceed.
However, the situation has changed with the notification of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the new leader of the opposition, backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Achakzai has indicated willingness to engage in consultations, signaling a breakthrough in the stalled process.
A spokesperson for the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Azadi Pakistan confirmed that Achakzai would respond positively if formally invited by the prime minister, emphasizing the importance of ensuring an independent and transparent Election Commission.
Government sources have also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif plans to extend a formal invitation to the opposition leader in the coming days to initiate consultations. Officials stressed that the government is prepared to follow the constitutional procedure to complete the appointments without further delay.
Under the Constitution, the prime minister and opposition leader must first attempt to reach consensus on nominees for the CEC and ECP members. If no agreement is reached, the matter is referred to a bipartisan parliamentary committee for final consideration.
The prolonged delay had raised concerns about the leadership of the Election Commission and its ability to function effectively ahead of future electoral processes. With both sides now expressing readiness to move forward, political observers view the development as a positive step toward resolving the issue.
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