PM Khan writes a letter to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif to consult on filling vacancies in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The letter comes as members of ECP from Punjab and KPK finalized their retirement on 26th July.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry revealed the news on Twitter by posting the letter.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote a letter to the Leader of the Opposition for the vacant posts of members in the Election Commission in accordance with Articles 213 and 218 of the Constitution. He proposed three names in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
Read more: ECP issues list of candidates for AJK legislative assembly elections
Moreover, Articles 213 and 218 of Pakistan’s Constitution demand that the prime minister consult with the Opposition and appoint new members. Therefore, while adhering to the constitution, PM Khan wrote the letter to Shehbaz Sharif to initiate the process of consultation.
وزیر اعظم عمران خان نے آئین کے آرٹیکل 213 اور 218 کے مطابق قائد حزب اختلاف کو الیکشن کمیشن میں ممبران کی خالی اسامیوں کیلئے خط لکھا ہے اور پنجاب اور خیبرپختوخخواہ میں تین تین نام تجویز کر دئیے ہیں،ان ناموں پر اپوزیشن کے جواب کے بعد الیکشن کمیشن تعیناتی ہو سکے گی۔ pic.twitter.com/9hCxwc3br7
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) August 27, 2021
Furthermore, PM Khan recommended three names for each vacancy. For Punjab, he recommended retired BS-22 officer of Police Service of Pakistan Mr. Ahsan Mahboob, Advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan Raja Ahmer Khan, and a retired BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Dr. Syed Pervaiz Khan.
On the other hand, for KPK, PM Khan recommended Justice (Retd) Ikramullah Khan, a retired BS-22 officer of PAS Mr. Faridullah Khan, and finally Advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr. Muzammil Khan.
After the Opposition’s response, the government will notify ECP for the appointment of the selected candidates.
Read more: Did ECP hide PTI’s foreign bank accounts?
Opposition’s tirade against PTI government
The Opposition makes frequent accusations against PM Khan that his government “bulldozes” decisions without consultation.
To clarify, in June, the PTI government passed 21 bills. Subsequently, the Opposition claimed the government bulldozed the bills in the absence of Opposition members.
The Opposition then strongly protested the undue and unnecessary haste in passing the legislation and suspending the rules of the business of the house. They accused the PTI government of rejecting all the recommendations of the Opposition.
Read more: In a historic move, Pakistan’s national assembly passed 21 bills in single day
The Opposition is also very critical of PM Khan’s electoral reforms, especially the Electronic Voting Machines.