National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai has called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint a new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) along with two Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members representing Sindh and Balochistan. In a letter dated August 10, Achakzai, who also leads the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) and serves as chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, highlighted the urgent constitutional responsibility concerning the composition of the electoral body.
He pointed out that the statutory terms of the current CEC and the ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan are set to expire on January 26, 2025. Emphasizing the importance of timely appointments, Achakzai stressed that filling these vital constitutional positions promptly is crucial to uphold the commission’s operational continuity, independence, and credibility.
In his correspondence, the opposition leader referenced two constitutional provisions. Article 213(2A) requires the prime minister to consult with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and forward three names for the CEC appointment to a Parliamentary Committee for hearing and confirmation. Similarly, Article 218(2)(b) mandates the same consultation process between the prime minister and opposition leader for appointing ECP members from each province.
Achakzai also requested a meeting with the prime minister to finalize the nominations for these key roles. Notably, last year in June, PM Shehbaz had invited then Opposition Leader Omar Ayub for consultations on the CEC appointment. However, the process stalled after the National Assembly removed Ayub and other PTI-backed leaders from significant parliamentary positions following their disqualification by the ECP in the May 9 cases in August 2023. This development has contributed to the delay in filling these important ECP posts.
