ISLAMABAD: Months after the expiry of the five-year term of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the prime minister and opposition leader have initiated the process of consultation to appoint their replacements.

`As you are aware that incumbent Chief Eleetion Commissioner and Members of Election Commission of Pakistan from Sindh and Balochistan took oath of their respective offices on 27th January, 2020 and have completed their terms on 26th January, 2025. They are presently continuing to hold office in terms of 2nd proviso to clause (1) of Article 215 of the Constitution, said a letter written by PM Shehbaz Sharif to OppositionLeader Omar Ayub.

Although the letter was written on May 16, it only came to light after Mr Ayub admitted to receiving it over two weeks ago.

The letter recalls that under Article 218 of the Constitution, three names each for the appointment of CEC and two members (for Sindh and Balochistan) are to be forwarded to the Parliamentary Committee for hearing and confirmation of any one person against each position.

`In view of the aforesaid, you [opposition leader] are invited for a meeting for consultation, [under Article 213 of the Constitution]...

in order to finalise three names each for appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Members from Sindh and Balochistan,` it reads.

However, no date has been set for their meeting so far.

Talking to reporters outside theECP on Wednesday, Mr Ayub said he had written to the prime minister back in September 2024, seeking the initiation of the process for the appointment of new CEC and ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan.

He said he had also written to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, seeking the formation of a parliamentary committee for the purpose and recalled that an assurance had been given by the speaker that he will `write a letter`.

The opposition leader said though he had not received a letter from the speaker even after the passage of four months, a letter from the prime minister had been received. `In response, our parliamentary party is ready and a letter will be sent to the speaker either today or tomorrow and the process will be moved forward`.

On Feb 11, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said he had formally written to the government and the opposition, seeking nominations for the parliamentary panel.

`The parliamentary committee will be formed once the nominations are received,` he said during an assembly session.

On March 25 this year, opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate, Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the delay in appointing the CEC and two ECP members.

The petition argued that the CEC and ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan had completed their tenure on Jan 26 and are now illegally holding their positions. It urged the court to declare their continuation in office unconstitutional and direct the prime minister to consult with the opposition leader on new appointments.

The petition said the prime minister, NA speaker and Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani had failed to fulfil their constitutional obligations in ensuring timely appointments.A PTI lawmaker, speaking to Dawn, said the prime minister`s letter appeared to be a mere eyewash, as it proposed no date for a meeting with the opposition leader. He expressed concern that a situation might be engineered to ensure the continuation of the current controversial Election Commission, which he claimed suits the government.

The five-year term of CEC Raja and two ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani (Sindh) and Shah Muhammad Jatoi (Balochistan) ended on Jan 25. The two other ECP members Babar Hassan Bharwana (Punjab) and retired Justice Ikramullah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) will remain in office until the last week of May 2027.

Article 213 states that the prime minister shall, in consultation with the opposition leader, forward three names for the appointment of the CEC to a parliamentary committee for hearing and confirmation of any one person.

Provided that, in case there is no consensus between the prime minister and the opposition leader, each shall forward separate lists to the Parliamentary Committee for consideration, which may confirm any one name.