Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition are likely to make formal contact today (Tuesday) over the appointment of the Election Commission members, as both the sides have so far been unable to shortlist suitable persons for the constitutional posts.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to meet opposition leader Khursheed Shah to share the names under consideration by the government for the ECP. Sources privy to the meeting held between Khursheed Shah, Aitzaz Ahsan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi told this scribe that the opposition parties were also short of finding suitable names for the ECP. “Both the government and the opposition sides are finding it difficult to shortlist names who should be appointed as ECP members,” sources maintained.

It is learnt that the government has not yet handed over the probables to the opposition leader Khursheed Shah. Sources said both the government and the opposition were in unison that either bureaucrats or technocrats should be brought to the ECP rather than retired judges.

However, they were finding it difficult to locate a person who meets the criteria. “There were few names whom we deliberated on, but they don’t qualify because of the age limit,” sources in the opposition said. They said that the opposition parties would make a final decision once the government gave its names for the ECP.
Interestingly, both the government and the opposition have rejected around a dozen candidates who had forwarded their CVs. “We have received particulars from some persons who were interested for the job. But it’s decided that only those who enjoy good repute will be entrusted the job,” sources said. Sources said the government and the opposition were trying hard to meet the constitutional obligation but it seems a daunting task.