LAHORE–After achieving success in replacing the DG ISI, the PML(N) eyes at appointment of new Chief Election Commission (CEC) who is due to complete his three years tenure this month, and the general election by September next.
Under the provision of 18th and 20th Constitutional amendments, new CEC has to be appointed after consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly in the interest of infusing transparency in the appointment as well as in the national elections.
The party leadership had jointly carried the said three issues last year through campaign which although, had anti-Zardari sentiments in the dominance as it felt solution to all issues in the ouster of the president. However later the situation changed and party tended to fight issues one by one with one modification of prolonging the election time from ‘early’ to September 2012. The party sources say that next in the row, is PML(N) struggle for an independence CEC for which it had reached an understanding with the PPP-led government prior to the approval of the 20th amendment. Sources say that on the side of the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Gilani no formal contact has as yet been made with the Leader of the Opposition Ch Nisar Ali Khan to kick off consultation process for a mutually agreed person for the CEC. This party is waiting for the call or it will remind the PM for this purpose soon, they say.
Ch Nisar Ali Khan while differentiating between Election Commission of Pakistan and CEC appeared much satisfied at a press conference on Thursday that now not the person of CEC but the whole commission will have a say in the elections as such it electoral process has been made transparent through the PML(N) efforts. At the same time, Nisar was not at all pleased with incumbent CEC terming him appointee of President Zardari and not meeting the procedure laid down in the 20th amendment. Nisar is harsh on the present CEC and wants him replaced on completion of the tenure. Sources say that after CEC, the party focus will turn to election by September next and has worked out a strategy to build pressure on the government for this purpose after the party leadership has received clear indications from the PPP leadership that it will take the election to February-March 2013. The PML(N), say the sources, can resort to revive the last year’s movement to build public and political pressure on the Government to force it hold election in September.