Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s five-year term will end on January 26, but as per the 26th Constitutional Amendment, he will continue to discharge his duties until a new appointment is made.
Apart from the CEC, members from Sindh and Balochistan will also retire on January 26. However, they will continue their work until the new appointments are finalized.
The process to appoint the new CEC has not yet begun, as consultations between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition are still pending.
According to the constitution, it is necessary for the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to consult each other on the appointment of the CEC and its members. If no consensus is reached between them, the matter will be referred to a parliamentary committee.
The president of the National Assembly will form a committee composed of 12 members from both the government and the opposition to address the issue.
If there is still no agreement, three candidates for each position will be sent to the committee. If the parliamentary committee fails to reach a consensus, the matter will be referred to the Supreme Court.
The appointment of the new CEC and its members must be completed within 45 days, but in the meantime, the CEC and current members will continue with their responsibilities.
Former Supreme Court judges, technocrats and bureaucrats under 68 years of age are eligible for the CCA post. Similarly, former High Court judges, bureaucrats and technocrats below the age of 65 years can be appointed as members of the Election Commission.
