ECP complete as govt, Opp announce consensus decision

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary committee on appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) finally broke the deadlock, persisting for many months, on Tuesday.

The name of retired bureaucrat Dr Sikandar Sultan Raja was announced as the new CEC, along with Nisar Durrani as an ECP member from Sindh, and Shah Muhammad Jatoi from Balochistan.

Sikandar Raja is the first-ever retired bureaucrat who has been nominated for the CEC post after the enactment of the 22nd Constitutional Amendment, as in the past only retired judges got the constitutional post.

The CEC post fell vacant after the retirement of Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan on Dec 5, 2019. A meeting of the parliamentary committee on appointment of the CEC and members of the ECP was held on Tuesday with Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari in the chair, in which the approval of the names of Dr Sikandar Sultan Raja as the CEC, Nisar Durrani as the ECP member from Sindh and Shah Muhammad Jatoi from Balochistan, was given.

The approval was given after the government and the opposition agreed on a formula that members of Election Commission of Pakistan from Sindh and Balochistan would be picked from the opposition suggested panel, while the name of CEC would be selected from the government proposed panel.

Now the nominated names would be sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who would send them to President Dr Arif Alvi for their appointment.

Committee Chairperson Dr Shireen Mazari told the media after the meeting that it was good omen that the parliament itself decided the matter and no other institution was involved in the matter. She said the parliamentary practice would also continue in future on the national issue. “The names now would be sent to the prime minister for the final approval,” she said.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, a leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), said consensus had been reached between the government and the opposition on the names and now their decisions will speak. “I now expect from them that they will discharge their duties as per law and Constitution as the nation has given them a huge responsibility,” he said.

The former PM said “we made decisions in good faith and now expect they will fulfil their responsibility of holding a free, fair and transparent election in the country”.

Rana Sanaullah Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) said “the decision which comes through consensus always yields good results”.

He said both sides showed flexibility, especially the government side. Earlier, they insisted on particular name, but when it showed flexibility by withdrawing the earlier name and giving a fresh name, it helped reached census.

Rana said the new CEC had worked with the PML-N in the Punjab government for a long time and he was a hard working, honest and clean person. He hoped that new CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, and other members of the ECP, would suggest such an amendments to the law, which would ensure a free, fair and transparent election in the country.

Senator Mushahidullah Khan of the PML-N said he was thankful to the Islamabad High Court which gave the committee ample time for resolving the matter at the parliamentary forum. “Today the parliament has accomplished its task,” he said adding “It’s a better decision.”

About the appointment of a retired bureaucrat for the first time to a constitutional post, he said in the past, experiences were done with regard to appointing of retired judges. Now, another experience should also be done by appointing a retired bureaucrat.

Dr Sikandar Raja was born in a village near Bhera in district Sargodha. His father was an army officer. He got his earlier education from Government High School Bhera and later passed his Matric and FSC examinations from Cadet College Hasan Abdal. Then he did his MBBS from prestigious King Edward Medical College.

He also received a bachelors degree in law from the Punjab University and then qualified CSS exam in 1987 and was allocated DMG/PAS.

He started his career as the assistant commissioner Islamabad. His main postings during his service have been deputy commissioner Islamabad, director general Excise & Taxation Punjab, provincial secretary Communications & Works Punjab, provincial secretary Services & General Administration Punjab, provincial secretary Local Government & Community Development Punjab, DG Immigration & Passports in the Federal Government; he also holds the distinct honour of having served as Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and chief secretary Azad Kashmir (AJK) and served as federal secretary Petroleum & Natural Resources, SAFRON and recently retired as secretary/chairman Railways.

In the meanwhile, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser felicitated the treasury and the opposition over achieving consensus on the appointment of CEC and members of the Election Commission.

The speaker said it not only enhanced the honour of the parliament but also depicted the commitment of both sides of the aisle towards issues of national importance.