The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is incomplete since the retirement of its two members on January 26.
Two members of the election commission from Sindh and Balochistan retired on Jan 26, however the process to fill the posts has yet to complete, according to sources. The ECP had written a letter to the federal government to name new representatives till March 13. Under the constitution, the ECP comprises a chief election commissioner and four members, one from each province. The vacant seat of a member of the election commission is to be filled within a period of 45 days in consultation of both government and the opposition.
Under the constitution, the members of the ECP are proposed by the prime minister and the opposition leader in National Assembly after consultation. In case of difference of opinion, they propose three names each for a member and the decision is taken by a parliamentary committee on appointment of chief election commissioner and members.
The matter of the appointment of the ECP members has already been handed over to the parliamentary committee, but it has yet to report any progress in this regard.
Published in Daily Times, March 5th 2019.
