ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and retired Justice Tariq Pervez Khan have emerged as the most likely contenders for the office of chief election commissioner (CEC).

The two retired judges topped the list of five candidates whose names came under discussion at a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Ahmed Shah here on Thursday.

Also read: Khursheed Shah hopeful of CEC appointment in next few days

Soon after the meeting, Mr Shah consulted almost all opposition parties on the names of candidates for the key constitutional office. He is scheduled to meet the PTI leadership on Friday.

Rejecting a request by Mr Shah for another three months to complete the process of CEC’s appointment, the Supreme Court had on Oct 30 ordered that the office be filled by Nov 13; otherwise it would withdraw its judge currently serving as acting CEC.

Justice Jillani had already served as acting CEC from Aug 17 to Nov 30 last year before assuming the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) after the retirement of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Justice Jillani retired as CJP in July this year.

Justice Tariq Pervez had served as chief justice of the Peshawar High Court when former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in 2007. He was later elevated to the Supreme Court from where he retired in February last year.

Talking to Dawn, Khursheed Shah said the prime minister had proposed the names of retied Justices Tassaduq Jillani, Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui and Rana Bhagwandas, whereas he suggested the names of retired Justices Mian Muhammad Ajmal and Tariq Pervez Khan.

He said the PPP could not accept the name of Justice Siddiqui because he had contested the presidential election in 2008 on a PML-N ticket. Similarly, he said, Justice Bhagwandas had himself refused to accept the post because of some legal complications.

Mr Shah said that previously he had himself suggested the name of Mr Bhagwandas, but since he had served as chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission, he could not hold any other government or constitutional office under the law. Moreover, the former judge himself stated that he did not want the government and the opposition to change the law only to benefit an individual.

The PPP leader said Mr Sharif had expressed reservations over the name of Justice Mian Ajmal because he was the principal law secretary to the government when Gen Musharraf imposed emergency on Nov 3, 2007.

Mr Shah said he had discussed the names with a number of opposition parties and would meet the PTI leadership on Friday. He disclosed that some parties had objected to the name of Justice Tariq Pervez as well because he had served as caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last year.

Khursheed Shah said the name of new CEC was expected to be finalised after return of the prime minister from China on Nov 9. Mr Shah said he planned to leave for the UK on Nov 10. “No problem, we can discuss the issue on telephone,” he added.

He said he wanted to take all opposition parties into confidence so that no one could say tomorrow that the two big parties had done ‘muk muka’ (deal) on the matter.

A spokesman for the opposition leader later said Mr Shah had met Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and also held telephonic conversations with Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq, parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Dr Farooq Sattar, Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan and Ghazi Gulab Jamal from Fata.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has reportedly recommended the name of retired Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid for the post of CEC.

The office of CEC fell vacant after retired Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim voluntary tendered his resignation in July last year amidst allegations of rigging and irregularities in the general elections by almost all political parties.

Justice Ebrahim was the first man who was appointed as CEC after the passage of the 18th Amendment under which the tenure of the office has been increased to five years from three.

The CEC was earlier appointed by the president but under Article 213 of the Constitution, the prime minister, in consultation with the leader of opposition, is required to forward three names to the parliamentary committee for confirmation of one of them.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2014