Too many outstanding issues
The government and its allies have agreed upon a proposed list of ECP members. The opposition on the other hand has yet to overcome its differences over nominations. The ECP plays a crucial role in the conduct of a fair and free general election. Soon after the last elections serious reservations had emerged about the conduct of the polls. While some of the complainants approached the ECP, Imran Khan decided to go for public protests when his demand for opening some of the constituencies was not accepted by the government. To remove the shortcomings of the former Election Commission, the Parliament passed the 22nd amendment in May this year. This allowed appointment of ECP members from outside the judiciary also, giving the government and opposition a wider choice to set up a really independent commission.
The four controversial members of the ECP retired over a month back. There was a need on the part of the political parties to have done their homework meanwhile to reach an early consensus on new appointments. This was required because the ECP has to deal with a number of election related issues, keeping it busy throughout its tenure. Among other things these include holding of elections against the vacant seats in the national and provincial assemblies, local government elections and issuance of notification of returned candidates. The lack of seriousness shown by the political parties has made the ECP non-functional.
This has led the CJ to take notice of the ECP’s failure to conduct its normal business which he said was unacceptable. What is more the CJ has observed that the government and the opposition are playing a friendly match. There is a need on the part of the government and the opposition to reach an understanding on the new members of the ECP at the earliest. Equally important for democracy is that they urgently resolve their differences over the ToRs. As things stand the two sides seem to be least bothered to reach a consensus.