ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has issued a notification which ceased the office of the election commissioner of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the three-month tenure of Mohammad Iqbal Khakwani as election commissioner ended on Thursday.

“Consequent upon completion of the three-month tenure dated 05-07-2023 read with notification of dated 12-7-2023, Mr Mohammad Iqbal Khakwani, Election Commissioner, Pakistan Cricket Board, shall cease to hold the office of Election Commissioner, PCB with immediate effect. The Office of Election Commissioner stands vacant with immediate effect,” read the notification issued by the Ministry of IPC.

Iqbal was appointed to hold the election of the PCB chairman but it could not be held in the stipulated time period of 90 days. The PCB constitution says that the prime minister as PCB patron-in-chief has to appoint a new election commissioner for the same task.

A number of legal cases in the higher courts of the country over formation of the Board of Governors — the electoral college to elect PCB chairman — have remained the main hurdle in holding the said election.

Furthermore, as Zaka’s four-month tenure as chairman of the PCB Interim Management Committee ended on July 6, no interest was shown by him for the election.

The appointment of new election commissioner is likely to be made in a few days after which the situation for the election of PCB chairman will get clear.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2023