In a letter to the prime minister dated August 10, Achakzai drew Shehbaz’s “urgent attention” to what he described as the critical constitutional requirement to complete the composition of the country’s electoral watchdog.
Achakzai, who also heads the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, said the statutory terms of the CEC and the ECP members representing Sindh and Balochistan had expired on January 26, 2025.
“Ensuring the immediate filling of these key constitutional offices is essential for maintaining the operational continuity, independence, and credibility of the commission,” he said.
The opposition leader cited constitutional provisions governing the appointment process.
Referring to Article 213(2A), Achakzai said the prime minister was required to consult the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly before forwarding three names to a parliamentary committee for consideration and confirmation of the CEC.
He also cited Article 218(2)(b), saying the appointment of ECP members from each province followed the same constitutional requirement for consultation between the prime minister and the opposition leader.
Achakzai also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz to finalise names for the vacant constitutional positions.
Appointment process delayed
The process to fill the key positions has remained pending for months.
In June last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz had invited then National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub for consultations over the appointment of a new CEC.
However, the National Assembly later removed Ayub and other PTI-backed lawmakers from prominent parliamentary positions following their disqualification by the ECP in cases related to the May 9 events in August last year.
The resulting changes in parliamentary leadership contributed to the delay in completing the constitutional process for appointing the new ECP officials.
