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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PM writes to opp to confer on new CEC
After months of dead air and no movement on key electoral appointments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday extended an olive branch to National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, inviting him for consultations on the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). In a letter, the premier stated that the term of the CEC, as well as that of two other members of the ECP, ended on January 26. However, all three have continued their duties under Article 215 of the Constitution. He stated that, according to Article 218, proposals for the CEC and its members must be submitted to the parliamentary committee. The letter comes as the constitutional logjam has been festering since January, as the five-year terms of CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, Sindh Member Nisar Durrani and Balochistan Member Shah Muhammad Jatoi ended on January 26. The process, laid out clearly in Article 213, requires a consensus between the prime minister and the opposition leader. In the event of no agreement, both sides are supposed to send separate lists of three names to a 12-member bipartisan committee, which would then pick one and send it to the president for formal appointment. However, the process has been gathering dust. Though the seats of the CEC and two members expired in January, the government allowed the 45-day constitutional deadline for new appointments, which lapsed on March 12, to come and go without resolution. The impasse now rests at the feet of both the treasury and opposition, with neither side making serious contact until the PM's letter. On the other hand, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has already taken the government to court in March. A petition filed in the Islamabad High Court by Ayub and Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz lambasts the inaction as a constitutional violation. It names the federal government, Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker and the ECP as respondents. The petition urges the court to compel the National Assembly speaker to constitute the required parliamentary committee and calls on the Senate chairman to provide names of senators for the same. It further asks the court to order the prime minister to hold meaningful consultations with Ayub, as required under Article 213, and to declare the continued presence of the CEC and two expired members as illegal. Constitutional experts point to the 26th Amendment, which altered Article 215(4) to allow officeholders to continue "till successors are appointed". Both opposition and observers allege the amendment is a legislative patch over executive indecision, especially when key posts meant to guarantee fair elections remain in limbo. Of the four members of the ECP, only the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa representatives - Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan - still have valid tenures, both stretching till mid-2027. It is worth noting that CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja's tenure has been full of political minefields. Opposition parties, particularly the PTI, have accused him of everything from election mismanagement to open partisanship. He has been criticised for failing to ensure timely general elections and for stripping the PTI of its iconic 'bat' symbol ahead of the 2024 polls. The ECP has also come under fire for failing to implement the Supreme Court's verdict on reserved seats and for not holding Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a delay denounced by critics as undermining federal parliamentary integrity.
Business Recorder
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
LG polls in ICT: ECP-govt officials talks remain inconclusive
ISLAMABAD: Uncert ainty continues shrouding the fate of local government elections in the federal capital, as another meeting between the poll body and federal government officials on holding the much-delayed polls remained inconclusive on Friday. In this context, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) again passed the buck on the federal government for lingering delay in the LG polls. Not attended by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the meeting was attended by other senior officials of ECP, and those of Interior Ministry and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA). 'Whenever the ECP finalises the polls preparations, local government laws are amended,' said an ECP statement issued after the meeting. The ECP issued a similar statement this February after the hearing of a case related to persistent delay in LG elections in Punjab, Pakistan's largest province. In Friday's meeting, the ECP officials asked the Interior Ministry representatives to ensure the conduct of LG elections in Islamabad. The ministry officials informed the meeting that the amended draft of Islamabad Local Government Act 2025 was presented in the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) meeting on 30th April. Following CCLC's approval, the draft would be sent to the federal cabinet for its nod, after which, it would be sent to the Parliament for legislation, the officials said. 'If the government does not show seriousness in holding the LG elections in Islamabad, then ECP would fix the matter for regular hearing, and issue orders accordingly, the implementation of which would be mandatory,' said the ECP statement issued after Friday's meeting. Presently, the local bodies are in place in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan but LG elections in Punjab and federal capital have been facing an inordinate delay since 2021. The local bodies' term in ICT expired on 14th February 2021, and in Punjab on 31st December 2021. The ECP is bound to hold LG elections within 120 days of the expiry of local bodies' term, under Section 219(4) of the Elections Act 2017. This law provides that the ECP shall hold elections to the local governments within 120 days of the expiry of the term of local governments of a province, cantonment or ICT. Article 218(3) of the Constitution provides that it shall be the ECP's duty to organise and conduct the elections, and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that an election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CEC's appointment
Listen to article The ruling coalition sits in violation of constitutional spirit, and there are no two opinions about it. The delay in the appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner and two members of the Election Commission, even after the expiry of a controversial lease of life inserted through the impugned 26th amendment, simply testifies defiance at work. The beleaguered dispensation, already under slur for gaining power on the premise of open-ended irregularities in the 2014 elections, is torpedoing the mosaic of constitutionalism. Though it could be part of its exigency politics, it does not bode well for rule of law and future of democracy in the country. Pakistan is already in the grip of acute political instability, and non-functioning of constitutional organs that vet the electoral process makes it more worrisome. What is desired is an independent and non-partisan electoral watchdog, with the incumbents rising above petty interests in discharging their mandate. So is the case in all functional democracies, and that comes to the aid of civil society and supremacy of merit. It's high time the sitting CEC, Sikandar Sultan Raja, himself called it a day. He is broadly criticised for his failure to hold general elections in time; denying PTI its poll symbol of 'cricket bat'; and playing a key role in manipulation of election results. The non-implementation of the July 12, 2024 verdict of the Supreme Court is another stigma on his career. With the legislative-extended deadline of appointments becoming history, it is mandatory for the parliament to erect an autonomous Election Commission. The opposition PTI too cannot escape its responsibility as its performance has not been up to the mark. The failure to set up parliamentary committees, and lack of consensus between the leaders of the house and the opposition are at the vanguard of delaying tactics. Moreover, the government should desist from re-appointing the outgoing CEC, as reported in a section of the press, as it would be ultra vires and come to radicalise an already polarised society.
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CEC claims electoral gender gap shrinks to 7.4%
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on Thursday lauded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for achieving a significant milestone by reducing the gender gap in electoral rolls from 11.8% in 2018 to 7.4% by January 2025. Inaugurating the fifth phase of inclusive women CNIC/voter registration campaign on International Women's Day 2025, alongside all four Election Commission members, the chief election commissioner said this accomplishment highlights the ECP's ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and gender equality in the electoral process. The campaign's progress as a testament to the ECP's relentless efforts. Raja highlighted the election commission's comprehensive approach to further narrowing the gender gap in electoral rolls, calling it a shared legal responsibility of the ECP and NADRA, not just a promotional campaign. He praised the dedication of the team and partners for their tireless work in ensuring inclusive voter representation during the previous four phases. The past four phases of the campaign have emphasized promoting electoral participation on an equal basis for women and other marginalized groups. Significant measures were taken to enhance inclusion in the electoral process and advance gender equality, marking a crucial step toward ensuring fair representation for all. The commissioner emphasized that democracy thrives when every voice is heard and every citizen is given the opportunity to shape their future through their vote. Referencing the Election Commission's constitutional mandate, he highlighted the importance of special measures under Article 25 and Sections 47 and 48 of the Elections Act 2017 to ensure the inclusion of women and marginalized groups. He underscored the need for collaborative efforts between the Election Commission and NADRA to achieve this goal.
Express Tribune
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab shifted LG goalposts five times, ECP informed
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday directed the Punjab government to expedite the legislative process, enabling the commission to begin delimitation and ensure timely local government elections. A full bench of the Election Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, issued the instructions during a hearing on the case related to conducting local government elections in Punjab at the Election Commission Secretariat. During the hearing, the secretary of the Election Commission, while assisting the Commission, revealed that successive provincial governments in Punjab have changed electoral laws five times at various intervals. The election commission conducted delimitations three times, updated electoral rolls twice, and issued schedules for local government elections. Despite these efforts, the holding of local government elections in the province has not been possible. The secretary emphasized the challenges faced due to frequent changes in laws and procedures, underscoring the need for stability to ensure timely elections. CEC Raja emphasized that under Article 140-A(2) and Article 219(d) of the Constitution, as well as Section 219 of the Elections Act, the ECP is constitutionally mandated to conduct local government elections in both federal and provincial territories. The chief election commissioner lamented that no provincial government is ever prepared to hold local elections. He noted that whenever the Election Commission completes its preparations, provincial governments amend laws, forcing the ECP to restart the entire election process. The ECP has managed to successfully hold local government elections in three provinces and cantonments after significant efforts.
