MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Leader of the Opposition in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, Shah Ghulam Qadir, on Friday wrote to the Prime Minister, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, seeking consultation on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AJK.
According to the letter, the opposition leader stated that Article 50(4) of the Interim Constitution 1974 requires that the Leader of the Opposition be consulted for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the members of the Election Commission is a constitutional and national requirement for the timely holding of the upcoming elections in 2026, the letter added.
It further mentioned that the post of Chief Election Commissioner has been lying vacant for a long time, which is harming the electoral system and the constitutional responsibilities of the state.
The opposition leader requested the premier to initiate the consultation process on an immediate basis to fulfill the requirements of the constitutional consultation. “An urgent meeting should be called to consult on suitable names for the Chief Election Commissioner,” it stated.
“The post of CEC is an important pillar of the state electoral structure; therefore, a delay in its completion is in no way appropriate,” the letter wrote.
