ISLAMABAD:
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikander Sultan Raja, can continue to perform his duties until the appointment of his successor, as per the Constitution.
“The new CCA will be appointed in accordance with the Constitution, which also allows a CCA to continue doing its job until a new CCA is appointed,” Tarar said in a statement on Friday.
The CEC’s constitutional mandate will end on January 26 and opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, have already written separate letters demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to review nominations to fill the post. key position.
In his letter to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Omar called for intensifying efforts for the appointment of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members from Sindh and Balochistan as their terms will also expire on January 26.
Referring to Article 213 of the Constitution, he urged the formation of the parliamentary committee as soon as possible to start the CEC appointment process, stating that there should be no delay under any circumstances.
Shibli Faraz, in his letter to Senate President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, also emphasized the need to form the parliament and fill the seats of the two members from Sindh and Balochistan.
Article 213 states that the prime minister, in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, will forward three names for CEC appointment to a parliamentary committee for hearing and confirmation of any particular person.
“Whenever there is no consensus between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, each will submit separate lists for consideration by the Parliamentary Committee, which may confirm any name.
