ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The reconstitution of the election commission is awaiting the approval of the president, who has to pick from names forwarded to him for the appointment of the chief election commissioner and two permanent members.

The commission is being reconstituted before being given a go ahead for holding the general elections by October, EC sources told Dawn on Saturday.

When contacted, a senior official in the election commission admitted that everything in the commission was at standstill, till the appointment of new CEC and members.

He termed the preparation of new electoral rolls a routine matter.

Significant work would only start when a new and powerful election commission is put in place with certain directives vis-a-vis holding of new elections under certain code of conduct, said the official.

The office of the CEC fell vacant two weeks back when Abdul Qadir Chaudhry relinquished charge after completing his three-year term. Similarly, the two members of the commission from judiciary were to be appointed, as the seats are lying vacant since long.

The EC sources confirmed the reports that appointment of the former chief justice of supreme court, Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, as the new CEC was under consideration but it was not clear whether he was the sole nominee being considered for the slot.

The question before the government is to appoint a person who is known for his impartiality and is acceptable to all as the politicians have been demanding the setting up of an independent election commission.

The question of empowering the commission on the pattern of advanced democratic countries is also under consideration.

The financial control of the commission, which so far has been with the government, is to be relinquished so that it can take sound decisions without financial constraints.

The compensation for the election staff hired from other government departments has also been long due.

Sources in the National Reconstruction Bureau confirm that a number of formulas for adoption in the next polls are under study. They, however, are not sure whether any of those formulas would be acceptable to the political parties.

These formulas, according to sources, include lowering of age limit for the voters to 18 years as was done in the local councils’ elections.

Another proposal is to make it compulsory for a winning candidate to poll at least 50 per cent of the total votes polled to be declared victorious.