ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition stand poles apart on forging consensus on the appointment of members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as both sides have now sent 12 names each to the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms.
The committee members will hold a meeting next Monday in connection with the appointment of ECP members.
This was disclosed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while talking to the media on Friday after a meeting of the committee.
He said that owing to disagreement over the names of the ECP members between the government and the opposition, 12 names each from both sides have been sent to the National Assembly Secretariat.
He went on to say that agreement on names of ECP members would be reached within the stipulated constitutional time.
He held that recommendations sent by the Senate chairman on change in the election procedure of Senate had been forwarded to the Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms
He said that nine recommendations were received about electoral reforms from the Senate. “The ECP is passing through a phase of electronic voting and purchase of biometric machines. Experiments are being done on electronic voting machines provided by different companies. These machines can be used in any upcoming by-polls after their purchased.”
He stated that proposals of the standing committee for granting oversees Pakistanis a right to vote had been sent to the sub-committee. “Different options are being weighed on this count,” he said.
“Recommendations received from different stakeholders about electoral reforms are being clubbed together and a draft bill on electoral reforms is in final phases, which will be sent to political parties before its final approval.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had sent 12 names to National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for the selection of members.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Syed Khurshid Shah also sent 12 names to the National Assembly Secretariat for consideration.
It is pertinent to mention here that with the joint efforts of the government and the opposition, it was decided to appoint one ECP member from each province (all four provinces) after receiving 12 suggested names each from government and opposition. According to official source, three names have been shortlisted from each province by the government and the opposition. The parliamentary committee would consider the appointment of ECP members in the light of the recommendations made by the government and the opposition.
It may be mentioned here that the Supreme Court had asked the government last week to appoint members of the Election Commission of Pakistan before July 28 to make it functional.