PML-N, PPP oppose latest appointments of ECP members

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) opposed the latest appointments on the two vacant seats of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). According to the details garnered, the opposition parties decided to raise matter of the appointment of Khalid Mahmood Siddiqui and Munir Kakar in the court and parliament. PPP senior leader Khursheed Shah alleged that the appointments were completely illegal as the constitutional requirements were neglected in the decision. He hinted at to take legal action against PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that her party rejects the appointment of ECP members and terms it ‘unconstitutional’. She said that the government issued a notification bypassing the Parliament. She accused the government of violating constitutional, parliamentary, democratic requirements and rules. President Dr Arif Alvi appointed two new members of the ECP. Khalid Mahmood Siddiqui and Munir Kakar have been appointed as ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan respectively, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The two seats of ECP members fell vacant after Abdul Ghaffar Soomro and (rtd) Justice Shakeel Baloch, the commission’s members from Sindh and Balochistan, retired in January this year. The government is required to appoint their successors within 45 days of their retirement. The delay was caused due to the deadlock between the government and opposition on  the appointment of ECP members. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan himself wrote a letter to Shehbaz Sharif for appointment of the ECP members. In a four-page letter, the prime minister invited the opposition leader to participate in consultations process for the appointment the ECP members. He also sought suggestions in writing. In the letter, the premier rejected all objections and allegations hurled by Shehbaz Sharif that the federal government was violating the constitution by delaying the appointment of the ECP members from Balochistan and Sindh provinces.

Shehbaz rejects PM Imran Khan ECP nominations

Shehbaz Sharif rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nominations of two people each for the two vacant seats of the ECP. According to the details, Shehbaz’s Thursday response stated that the candidates nominated by the PM Office were different from those who had been nominated in a letter sent to him by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who had been nominated by the premier for the consultation process.