Islamabad, June 15, 2025: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has declined to unilaterally form a parliamentary committee for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members from Sindh and Balochistan, emphasizing that the process requires political consensus.
The speaker’s response came after Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub proposed six names from the opposition for inclusion in the committee through a formal letter.
In a written reply, Speaker Sadiq stated that the formation of the committee would only proceed after mutual consultations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Omar Ayub. “Only after receiving nominations from both the prime minister and the opposition leader will names be sought from parliamentary leaders for the committee’s formation,” he clarified.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had initiated the consultation process via a letter to Omar Ayub on May 16, seeking input on the key constitutional appointments. However, no formal exchange of names has yet taken place between the two sides.
The appointments under discussion pertain to three critical positions in the Election Commission: the Chief Election Commissioner and the ECP members representing Sindh and Balochistan.
Speaker Sadiq reiterated that adherence to constitutional procedure and bipartisan consensus is essential for ensuring the legitimacy and credibility of the ECP’s composition, especially ahead of future electoral exercises.
