Consultations begin to schedule meeting between NA opposition leader and prime minister

Consultations have begun between the offices of the opposition leader and the prime minister to arrange a meeting following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s letter to National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai regarding the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC), Achakzai said in a statement.

A day ago, Dawn, citing an official source, reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz had decided to initiate a dialogue between the government and opposition by inviting Opposition Leader Achakzai for mandatory consultations on the appointment of a new CEC.

Earlier in August, Achakzai urged the prime minister in a letter to appoint a new CEC, along with two members representing Sindh and Balochistan.

In a social media post on X on Friday, Achakzai said consultations had begun between the offices of the opposition leader and the prime minister following the latter’s letter to schedule a meeting.

In a statement, a Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) spokesperson said a meeting was held at the chamber of Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. The meeting was chaired by Achakzai and attended by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser and others.

“The meeting discussed the September 27 protest, with Achakzai and Abbas directing PTI to make full preparations for the protest,” the spokesperson said.

He further said that following the prime minister’s letter, consultations had begun between the offices of the opposition leader and the prime minister to arrange a meeting.

Last month, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, during an NA session, also stressed the need for political harmony and stability and expressed the desire for the prime minister to initiate dialogue with the opposition by, as a first step, inviting the opposition leader for consultations on the appointment of a new CEC.

The five-year term of incumbent CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja expired on Jan 26, 2025. Raja has remained controversial since the ouster of the PTI government in April 2022 over what the opposition called his “support” for the PML-N-led government.

One of the main allegations levelled against Raja was that he had deprived PTI of its party symbol, the bat, in the 2024 elections.

His critics alleged that the denial of the party symbol was aimed not only at disadvantaging PTI by confusing voters, but also at allowing PTI-backed “independents” to later join the ruling coalition without risking disqualification. They also claimed that the move was intended to deprive PTI of its share of reserved seats.

The incumbent CEC Raja, along with Sindh and Balochistan ECP members, have now been in office for over a year after the expiry of their constitutionally mandated five-year terms.

The terms of the three officials ended on Jan 26, 2025. Under Article 215(4) of the Constitution, appointments to these posts were required within 45 days after the positions became vacant, i.e., by March 12, 2025.

However, a proviso inserted into Article 215(1) through the 26th Constitutional Amendment allows the CEC and members to continue until their successors are appointed. The incumbent CEC and two ECP members are serving under this provision.