ECP’s Eligibility Criteria Amended By Government

The Pakistani government has decided to constitutionally alter the eligibility criteria for election commission members before the present officers retire in June this year. Assurance was given to the parliamentary committee on Thursday for electoral reforms.

PPP member, Naveed Qamar, informed the media that the government had agreed to implement an amendment that includes a clause permitting people other than retired judges to take up membership in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Opposition parties have been adamant in their request for the appointment of bureaucrats and civil servants for the position of chief election commissioner and ECP members as well. The present four members of the highest electoral board are expected to retire in June this year.

The parliamentary panel, last month, had concluded on their decision to alter the eligibility criteria for appointment of the chief election commissioner and ECP members.

The committee members are derived from different political parties, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League=Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), who had agreed to the amendment.

Article 213 of the Constitution delineates that the chief election commissioner ought to be a retired judge of the Supreme Court. Also, Article 218 states that only retired judges of the high courts can take up membership in the election commission.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=52597

Posted by modousarr on Apr 8 2016. Filed under Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.