Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has forwarded the names of three retired judges to Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for appointment of as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
However, sources in the Prime Minister’s House told Pakistan Today that the opposition leader was using delaying tactics to avoid the consultation process. The slot of CEC is lying vacant after the retirement of former CEC Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza. However, senior most judge of the Supreme Court Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan is performing duties as Acting CEC.
The list proposed by the prime minister includes the names of Justice (r) Munir A. Sheikh, Justice (r) Amirul Mulk Mengal and Justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi.
After the passage of the 20th Amendment, the prime minister is constitutionally bound to take the opposition leader in the National Assembly on board on the issue, as without his consultation the prime minister cannot appoint the CEC.
