IT would appear that the process of consultations between the government and opposition over key appointments in the Election Commission of Pakistan has finally been set in motion. Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and the members from Sindh and Balochistan — respectively, Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi — had completed their terms in January this year. However, they have continued to retain their positions thanks to a provision in the controversial 26th Amendment, which allows retiring members of the ECP to stay in office till their successors are appointed. The results of the 2024 election have been challenged at multiple forums, and critics believe keeping the ECP unchanged till they are given finality suits the government. Even now, there is much suspicion over the fact that no date has been set for the opposition leader’s meeting with the prime minister.

While it seems unfair to doubt the government’s intentions based on hearsay, it should act quickly to prevent another important constitutional imperative from becoming a source of controversy. A date for the meeting should be announced at the earliest, and the process kick-started in earnest. That said, the opposition, particularly the PTI, must also demonstrate responsibility at this crucial juncture. Over the past year, it has chosen to keep disengaged, including in the National Assembly and from other parliamentary processes. This strategy, while perhaps understandable in the immediate post-election context, has increasingly come to reflect a failure of leadership and an unwillingness to engage constructively with the political system. The consultative process on the ECP reshuffle offers the PTI an opportunity to participate meaningfully in shaping one of the country’s most critical democratic institutions. This would not only serve the party’s own long-term interests but also help restore confidence in the democratic process. There is no denying that the present Election Commission has proven deeply controversial in more ways than one, and it is in the interest of preserving our flailing democracy that changes to its membership and leadership are made without further ado. Both the opposition and government must realise that this is a solemn obligation. It should be taken not as an opportunity to politick for individual interests, but to ensure that the interests of the people are protected and their democratic rights ensured by an independent and impartial commission.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2025