Jillani to be CEC whether Khan likes it or not

• Sources say govt, PPP have decided to appoint former CJP Tassaduq Jillani despite opposition by PTI which wants to see Nasir Aslam Zahid on ECP hot seat
• Say govt has made constitutionally mandatory consultation with PTI, other parties so final decision rests with PM now
• Special committee to remove bar associations’ reservations on Jillani’s appointment as CEC

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the main opposition party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have agreed on appointing former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as the new head of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), sources privy to the development told Pakistan Today on Sunday.

Sources in both the PML-N and PPP confirmed to Pakistan Today that Justice Jillani had emerged as the consensus nominee of the two major parties even though there was resistance on his nomination from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

“PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi had initially agreed on Jillani’s name but Imran Khan had shot down the proposal as he was insisting on the appointment of former judge Nasir Aslam Zahid. However, the government and the PPP have decided to appoint Justice (r) Jillani as the latter enjoyed a good reputation,” said the sources adding that the government had carried out the constitutionally mandatory consultation with all parties in the National Assembly therefore Khan’s opposition to Jillani’s nomination would not hinder his appointment.

Sources said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would formally announce the decision in the next couple of days. They added that a special committee would be formed to approach the office-bearers of bar associations to remove their reservations on Jillani’s appointment as the CEC.

The sources said that earlier the government and PPP were on the same page on appointing former judge Rana Bhagwandas as the CEC but he had turned down the offer even though Senator Raza Rabbani of the PPP had tried his best to convince the judge, known for his professional integrity and honesty, to take up the crucial position.

Information Minister Pervez Rashid said it was due to Imran Khan’s “illogic criticism” that Bhagwandas had refused to be named for the post. However, he refused to confirm information regarding the government and opposition’s consensus on Jillani’s name as CEC.

“The prime minister will make the announcement himself,” he said.

On the other hand, PTI chief Khan remains adamant on the appointment of Justice Zahid, saying he lacked confidence in Jillani.

“We respect you but do not trust that you will remain impartial. Therefore, you should not become the election commissioner,” the cricketer-turned-politician said while addressing Jillani during his speech to a party rally in Rahim Yar Khan on Sunday.

“The election commissioner should be someone agreed upon by all the political parties of the country,” said Khan, adding that if the government falls, then an impartial EC needs to be formed and all current members of the EC would have to resign.

“If elections are held after the commission’s report, they should be held under a new EC because we have no trust in the present four election commissioners,” said Khan.

Meanwhile, the sources said the opposition and the parties allied with government had also agreed on some of points linked with tenure of the CEC, expiry term of current four members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the expected electoral reforms.

According to reports, the parliamentary electoral reforms committee will not bring any amendment in the CEC and the ECP members’ term and tenure, which is five years under Article 215 of the Constitution. The current four members will not be removed as their term will expire in April 2015.