ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Pervez Rashid has started approaching political leaders to inform them about consultations on the Chief Election Commissioner's (CEC) appointment, said a press release issued on Friday.

He started the process on the directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for taking political leaders, other than leader of the opposition in National Assembly, into confidence regarding the CEC appointment.

Pervaiz Rashid contacted JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamat-i-Islami Amir Sirajul Haq, National Party leader Hasil Bazenjo, MQM leaders Haider Abbas Rizvi and Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, Qaumi Watan Party head Aftab Sherpao, and Haji Adeel of ANP, and briefed them about the ongoing consultations between leader of the house and leader of the opposition, and the names being considered for the CEC.

The government had suggested Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas, Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and Justice (retd) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui for the post.

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Meanwhile a joint meeting of MQM Karachi-London Coordination Committee led by Deputy Conveners Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Dr Nusrat Shaukat was held on Friday to discuss the names of CEC candidates.

A statement of MQM said that the meeting agreed on the names of Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice Ghaus Muhammad, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and Justice Rana Bhagwan Das.

The proposed names were sent to the government and the leader of the opposition.