An ineffective ECP

Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza will be officially retiring today after completing his five-year constitutional tenure, and in the absence of a suitable replacement, the institution had been rendered ineffective.

The federal government has proposed three names of civil servants- Babar Yaqoob, Fazal Abbas, and Arif Khan- for the coveted post. Yaqoob is currently posted as secretary election commission and will retire at the year of this year end. Abbas and Arif Khan are among the nineteen federal secretaries who retired this year. The fact that government prefers a retired bureaucrat rather than a judge is a significant policy shift.

The opposition has recommended three names from the bureaucracy. This includes former federal secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa. The nomination could strike a controversy as he is the brother of incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa, and former DG FIA Tariq Khosa. Interestingly, the PTI had recommended him as caretaker chief minister Punjab before the 2018 general elections. Shehbaz Sharif agreed but Nasir Khosa excused himself from the position.

Among other names recommended by the opposition include former diplomat Jalil Abbas Jillani and former civil servant Iklaq Ahmed Tarar. Jilani last served as the Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US and previously as foreign secretary. Abbas enjoys a good reputation among the bureaucratic circles and will be a suitable pick.

Although the recommendations are in, the major task lies ahead as both the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Imran Khan need to reach a consensus on the matter. Shehbaz Sharif is currently in London for the treatment of his brother Nawaz Sharif. He has summoned a meeting of senior PML-N leaders there which is expected to discuss the issue.

Prior to deciding the chief election commissioner, both the government and opposition also need to fill vacant seats for ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan. There has been a sustained deadlock over the matter and discussions at a parliamentary committee remained inconclusive. The Islamabad High Court has directed the government to resolve the matter with ten days.

The impasse continues ever since as a major institution remains ineffective. Prime Minister Imran Khan is a not ready to sit with Shehbaz Sharif over the matter. The government intends to hold local bodies elections next year particularly in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The CEC is an important post and should be filled up soon.