Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has sent his recommendation of three names to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for the post of chief election commissioner (CEC).
In a letter dated November 25 sent to the PM, Shehbaz has suggested former bureaucrat Nasir Mahmood Khosa, former ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani and retired civil servant Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar as qualified for the position, local media reported. The opposition leader further said that in his opinion the three individuals are 'eminently qualified'.
The Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) president added that the PM had not reached out to him to seek recommendations for the position, adding that 'the consultative process required under the above provision should have been initiated by you much earlier'.
"However, in an attempt to avoid possible discontinuity in the functioning of the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is a constitutional body, I am taking the initiative after a long wait with a hope to hear from you," Shehbaz wrote in the letter.
He also urged the premier that this time the government and opposition must endeavour to avoid any such impasse by making 'serious, sincere and genuine effort to evolve a consensus'.
The tenure of CEC retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza ends on December 6.