ECP members’ selection process has a smooth sailing

ISLAMABAD: The mandatory process of selection of four new members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is apparently having a smooth sailing unlike the efforts to break the logjam on formulation of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for a judicial probe into offshore companies.

Conscious of the fast approaching deadline of July 25 to make these nominations, the two main constitutional consultees – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and leader of opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah – are directly or indirectly taking the process forward without any glitches.

The real stage that may trigger a row will come when the two sides will insist on the acceptance of their recommended names as the ECP members. They will give their  separate lists to each other after two days.

The government side has no problem in firming up its nominees because it doesn’t need to consult with anybody for the purpose. Its allies, if and when consulted, always go with it in such matters, without putting up any impediments.

However, Khursheed Shah faces a different scenario. He has to take on board all the opposition parties, at least nine in the loose alliance that was formed to hold talks with the government on the Panama leaks in the ambit of a 12-member parliamentary committee, if he has to keep the prevailing bonhomie in the grouping intact. He will come out with his recommendations only after evolving a consensus in the coalition.

Every party in this alliance will obviously aggressively try to push its favourite representatives to be inducted as the ECP members. A heated discussion is not being ruled out in the coalition to hammer out an accord.

Under the Constitution, only the leaders of the House and opposition Nawaz Sharif and Khursheed Shah respectively have the exclusive role in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the ECP members. However, just to avoid needless tussle and confrontation, other political and parliamentary players are also taken into confidence so that all the top office holders of the electoral body enjoy universal consensus. This process also helps in selection of relatively non-controversial and non-partisan figures for the important positions.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the opposition leader held another satisfactory meeting to make the appointment of the four ECP members before the cutoff date. No side has so far divulged its choice names.

However, it is unlikely that the two sides will agree on all the four new ECP members. In case of disagreements, they will hand over to a parliamentary committee, headed by Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid, their separate lists of nominees. This bipartisan panel will confirm only four of them as the ECP members through consensus or a majority vote.

Agreement between the two consultees would not have a big problem because of the understanding they have if only the premier and opposition leader would have to decide. If one or more identical names appeared in the lists given by Nawaz Sharif and Khursheed Shah to the parliamentary committee, it will become easy for the forum to unanimously agree on those particular figures.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and National Party (NP) are represented in the parliamentary body.

In the 12-member panel, the PML-N has five votes of Pervez Rashid, Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry, Zahid Hamid, Arshad Leghari and Dr Darshan, supported by a lone representative, Kabeer Ahmed, of the National Party (NP).

On the other hand, the PPP has three nominees - Nawab Yousuf Talpur, Shazia Marri, Islamuddin Sheikh – while the PTI, MQM and ANP have one vote each, and are represented by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Farooq Sattar and Daud Achakzai respectively. These votes are unexpected to go in one basket considering their mutual differences.

The representation in the committee is based on the proportional numerical strength of the parties in the Senate as well as the National Assembly. The PML-Q, which has no nominee in the forum, has aired its apprehensions and alleged that the PML-N and PPP are working out in a ‘deal’ in having their preferred ECP members. Its senior leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has urged Khursheed Shah to take the PML-N in confidence as well.

The outgoing ECP members retired on June 10 after completing their five-year tenure. They proved to be unlucky as they were hammered very hard by the PTI and consistently accused by it of being favourable to the PML-N and against it.