The joint opposition has refused to accept the changes in the panel on the appointment of the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the Senate chairman included federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Azam Swati in the committee.
The Opposition took the decision on Sunday, during a virtual meeting of the opposition steering committee that was held to mull over the National Assembly speaker’s letter to the opposition seeking cooperation on important legislation.
The meeting had Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Sadiq Rafiq, Marriyum Aurangzeb; Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Yousaf Raza Gillani, Shazia Marri, Sherry Rehman; and Kamran Murtaza and Shahida Akhtar Ali of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) in attendance.
About the changes in the ECP panel, the opposition members said during the meeting that the government included two members – Fawad and Swati – who have in the past threatened the ECP chief. One of the members talked about setting the ECP on fire, they said, adding that now these people were being asked to decide on the appointment of the ECP members.
The opposition also expressed reservations over the government’s decision to remove Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) from the committee. The steering committee will also liaise with the PML-Q and MQM-P on the ECP issue.
It may be noted that Senator Kamil Ali Agha of the PML-Q had been replaced by Azam Nazir Tarar of the PML-N, while Senator Taj Haider of the PPP had replaced Khalida Ateeb of the MQM.
During the meeting, it was decided that the opposition will support the government on important legislation, but it will not help it tailor laws to facilitate individuals. The legislation should be in accordance with the constitution and the law, they concurred.
They said the government wanted to violate the spirit of law-making by extending the tenure of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief Javed Iqbal.
“We can talk with the government about improving the laws, but it should not expect any help in making the laws worse,” the opposition members said, adding that the reply to the NA speaker’s letter will be prepared today.
