Appointments of new CEC, two ECP members: Process will begin soon, PM’s adviser tells Achakzai

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday promised the opposition that the long-delayed process of appointing a new chief election commissioner (CEC) and two members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would begin “soon” – but once again stopped short of putting a date on it.

The assurance was given by Rana Sanaullah, the adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, during a meeting with Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the opposition leader in National Assembly, who had recently written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking clarity on the overdue appointments.

The government’s latest pledge comes more than a year after the terms of the CEC and two ECP members expired, leaving “soon” doing a considerable amount of political heavy lifting.

Sanaullah was accompanied by Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Sanaullah said the discussion focused on the letter recently sent by Achakzai to the prime minister regarding the appointment of the new CEC and the two ECP members.

He said the prime minister would respond to the opposition leader’s letter soon and that the constitutional process for the appointments would subsequently be initiated.

He repeated that the prime minister would “soon” respond to the letter and that the constitutional process would then be set in motion.

“There is no complaint or grievance from Achakzai’s side. The meeting took place in a cordial environment. The prime minister will respond to the letter, and we discussed the matter,” he said.

He did not elaborate on the contents of Achakzai’s correspondence or disclose what the government intended to convey in its response.

The meeting assumes significance because of the unusual length of the delay. The terms of the incumbent CEC Sikander Sultan Raja and two ECP members have expired, but they have continued performing their duties under a constitutional provision that allows them to remain in office until their successors are appointed.

The provision was retained through the recent 27th Amendment.

The opposition has been seeking greater clarity over when the government intends to initiate the constitutional mechanism for filling the vacancies, with the latest meeting producing an assurance but no concrete schedule.

The government’s position effectively leaves the next move with the prime minister, whose response to Achakzai’s letter is now expected to trigger the formal process.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026