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CEC appointment: SC deadline ends today
ISLAMABAD: The deadline given by Supreme Court of Pakistan for the appointment of Chief Election Commission (CEC) is ending today (Thursday) November 13, Geo News reported.
However, the appointment of the CEC is yet to be made and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah are out of the country and the government is expected to seek more time by making this an excuse.
On October 30, the Supreme Court had directed PM Nawaz Sharif to ensure by November 13 the appointment of a permanent chief election commissioner (CEC).
During the hearing, a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, rejected the request made by Khursheed Shah who had sought three month’s extension for the CEC’s appointment.
He submitted his reply in the apex court the other day seeking a three-month extension stating that the CEC’s appointment was a constitutional matter and consultations were underway.
The court on October 14, 2014 ordered the government to fill in the position of the permanent CEC by October 28.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for Syed Khursheed Shah, submitted before the court that the process of consultation with all the political parties was underway adding that electoral reforms were also being discussed with all the stakeholders.
The chief justice, however, observed that more than a year had passed and there was a dire need for a permanent CEC to carry out the policies. The chief justice further observed that both the SC and the ECP were suffering due to the non-appointment of a permanent CEC.
He further said that directions of the apex court on the matter had not been complied with so far. Aitzaz Ahsan, however, contended that the situation had changed during the last two months due to the political crisis.
The chief justice observed if the court were to wait for the electoral reforms, God knows as to when the reforms process would be completed. “We have to go by the law and Constitution and the appointment of a permanent CEC will have to be ensured as required under the Constitution,” the chief justice remarked.
During the course of proceedings, the court asked Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt whether he was given any instruction by the prime minister in this regard. The attorney general, however, replied that he had no instructions from the prime minister seeking more time for consultation.Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk