Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assures opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai that the constitutional procedure will be followed for appointments of the chief election commissioner and new ECP members.
ISLAMABAD – Web Desk: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has responded to a letter from opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai concerning the appointment of a new chief election commissioner and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), according to sources.
Sources said the prime minister has assured Achakzai that the constitutional procedure will be followed for the new appointments.
The response has been received by the opposition leader, who is currently in Quetta, according to the sources.
PM Assures Constitutional Procedure for ECP Appointments
The development comes as the government and opposition begin consultations over appointments to key positions in the Election Commission.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz’s response addressed Achakzai’s concerns regarding the appointment of the chief election commissioner and new ECP members.
The sources said the prime minister assured the opposition leader that the appointments would be made in accordance with the constitutional process.
The communication follows a recent meeting between Achakzai and federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
During the meeting, the ministers had reportedly assured the opposition leader that the prime minister would respond to his letter.
Achakzai to Consult Opposition Leadership
Sources said Mahmood Khan Achakzai is currently in Quetta and is expected to return to Islamabad within the next two to three days.
After reaching Islamabad, he is expected to consult Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other opposition leaders over the prime minister’s response.
Achakzai will also take Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas into confidence, according to sources.
The consultations are expected to help determine the opposition’s position on the proposed appointments.
Constitutional Process
The appointment of the chief election commissioner and ECP members is governed by constitutional provisions requiring consultation between the government and opposition leadership.
The latest correspondence between the prime minister and opposition leader signals the beginning of a potentially important consultation process over the future composition of the country’s election oversight body.
However, no final appointments have been announced at this stage, and the details of any agreement between the government and opposition remain subject to further consultations.
