News
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
PM sends three names to opp leader for new CECISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday rejected the three names proposed by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for the permanent post of chief election commissioner.
Sources in the PML-N said the party did not recognise Gilani as a legitimate prime minister of the country after his conviction by the Supreme Court, and hence any consultation with him was out of question. They party leadership was of the view that none among the proposed personalities had the capabilities to become chief election commissioner.
Earlier, the prime minister had forwarded three names to opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, seeking his opinion over appointment of permanent chief election commissioner. According to official sources, the list included Justice (r) Munir A Shaikh, Justice (r) Amirul Mulk Mengal and Justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi.
To fill the vacuum, as required by the constitution, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has appointed Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, as the acting chief election commissioner.
Under the 20th Amendment of the constitution, the prime minister is bound to make the appointment after a meaningful consultation with the opposition leader in the National Assembly. To meet the constitutional requirement, the prime minister had sent names of three retired judges of the superior judiciary to the opposition leader.
The chief election commissioner’s post has been lying vacant since the retirement of former chief election commissioner Justice(r) Hamid Ali Mirza. inp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk