Islamabad:
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja’s 5-year tenure will end on January 26, but he will continue his duties after the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Apart from Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the members of Sindh and Balochistan will also retire on January 26 but will continue their work till new appointment.
The consultation process between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for the appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner has not yet started.
If there is no consensus between the Prime Minister and the opposition leader, the matter goes to the parliamentary committee.
Similarly, if there is no consensus between the Prime Minister and the opposition leader, three names for each post are sent to the committee. According to the constitutional procedure, if there is no consensus in the parliamentary committee, the matter will go to the Supreme Court.
The appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner and members must be done within 45 days, however, the current Chief Election Commissioner and members will continue to work until the new appointment.
Former Supreme Court judges, technocrats and bureaucrats below 68 years of age are also eligible for Chief Election Commissioner, retired High Court judges below 65 years of age, bureaucrats and technocrats are eligible to become Election Commission members.
