Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday gave the government a week more for appointing a chief election commissioner after two deadlines set by the apex court were not met.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk set December 1 as the new deadline.
The bench said if the appointment was not made by that date it could issue notices to the prime minister and the opposition leader in National Assembly for explanation.
Attorney General Salman Butt earlier told the bench that the government and majority of opposition parties had agreed on the name of one retired judge but one major political party had raised objection over the nomination. He was referring to Imarn Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI),
The attorney general said the consultation process had started again but leader of opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah is on foreign tour and would be back in two days. He requested the bench to extend the time.
Justice (retired) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, the last chief election commissioner, had resigned on July 30, 2013, a day after May 2013 general elections. Acting chiefs have headed the poll panel since then.
Opposition parties had accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of failing to conduct impartial polls last year.
A PTI sit-in near the parliament in Islamabad over the alleged electoral fraud is still continuing after three months and the party plans to hold a massive rally there on November 30.
According to the constitutional procedure, the prime minister has to consult the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and reach a consensus on a nominee for the position.
In case they fail to agree on one name, both must propose three names each to a specially-constituted parliamentary committee, which can then pick out one name.
