- Khurshid Shah says opposition wants transparent appointment of ECP members
ISLAMABAD, July 13: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Wednesday said that the united opposition political parties want transparent appointment of the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make the electoral process free, fair and transparent. Khurshid Shah expressed the hope that members of Election Commission will be appointed with consensus. The leaders of the opposition parties also condemned the use of brutal force by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir on innocent Kashmiris. The opposition parties also offered sympathies with the heirs of the Kashmiri martyrs.
The consultations meeting of the parties of the united opposition was held in Khurshid Shah’s chamber at the parliament house.
Talking to media after the meeting Khurshid Shah informed that the names of ECP members are not yet been finalized. He said that detailed consultations over the names of EC members given by the government were made during the meeting. He said that the opposition wants transparent appointments of EC Members and people who are not an employee of any government department.
Khurshid Shah said the two sides will succeed to appoint such members who will be able to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country. Detailed consultations over the names of EC members given by the government were made during the meeting. The opposition wants transparent appointments of EC Members and people who are not an employee of any government department.
He said the joint opposition meeting condemned Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and showed solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their struggle for their right to self-determination.
Khursheed Shah also criticised the actions of PML-N in Azad Kashmir and stated that what they were doing to win elections was deplorable. He said that Kashmiris were being oppressed in occupied Kashmir and the Kashmiri leadership was being locked up there.
Shah also condemned PML-N’s actions in Azad Kashmir and said that the ruling party was fond of claiming that it had been subjected to oppression time and again. He said that the people had been martyred and the blame was placed on Pakistan Peoples Party.
Khursheed Shah stated that if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wanted to win elections in Kashmir, then he should convey that to the PPP. The PPP would make a sacrifice but if PML-N wins via rigging and violence, then it would only increase hostilities in the region.
On the occasion PTI leader Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the country could not afford to have disputed election anymore.
He said Opposition parties are united that such an Election Commission is constituted which ensures free and fair elections in future.
He also condemned human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir by Indian forces.
He said a meeting of the Joint Opposition will be held on 19th of this month in Islamabad to discuss progress on TORs relating to Panama Papers. He said during the meeting of 19th July the parliamentary, legal and political options will be discussed.
Leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamaat-e-Islami, Awami National Party, PML-Q and Awami Muslim League among others participated in the meeting. However the names were not finalized.
Under the Constitution, only the leaders of the House and opposition Nawaz Sharif and Khursheed Shah respectively have the exclusive role in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the ECP members.
However, just to avoid needless tussle and confrontation, other political and parliamentary players are also taken into confidence so that all the top office holders of the electoral body enjoy universal consensus. This process also helps in selection of relatively non-controversial and non-partisan figures for the important positions.-Sabah
