ECP members appointment: Shahbaz objects to govt letter
 

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif in a letter has told Prime Minister Imran Khan that his government was violating the Constitution while appointing members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).The opposition leader through his Director Mohib Ali addressed a letter to Secretary to the Prime Minister Azam Khan, which stated that sending nominations of two members of the ECP by the foreign minister's office on March 11 was violation of the Constitution. Shahbaz said that the government was already violating the Article 215(4) of the Constitution for delaying the process of appointment of members of the Election Commission."The letter from the government dated March 11 from office of the foreign minister, did not adhere to the intent and spirit of the constitution because the Constitution clearly states that the names will be forwarded by the prime minister to the parliamentary committee in consultation with the opposition leader," Shahbaz said.Shahbaz pointed out that as per Constitution, in case there is no consensus between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, each shall forward separate lists to the parliamentary committee for consideration which may confirm any one name.He also pointed out that that the proposed candidates in Imran Khan’s letter differ from the proposed candidates in the letter sent by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.He said the recent letter received from the Prime Minister office was also violation of the Constitution. Referring to concerned clause of the Constitution, the opposition leader said consultation on issue of appointment of ECP members could not be done through any nominated person.It may be pointed out that the prime minister wrote recent letter to Shahbaz Sharif withdrawing nominations made by the foreign minister’s office through his Secretary Azam Khan. The opposition leader replied in the same coin writing letter to the secretary through his director Mohib Ali.Shahbaz in his letter added that the constitutional term of ‘consultation’ with the opposition too was unambiguous as the Supreme Court had already clarified it in PLD 2011 (Supreme Court 365). “You can take guidance from decision of the Supreme Court regarding consolation between the prime minister and the opposition leader,” he said.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/6ECxLj85MF4

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