Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s five-year term concludes on January 26. Under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, he will continue his duties until a successor is appointed.
Additionally, Sindh and Balochistan members will retire on the same date but remain in their roles until new appointments are finalized.
The process of appointing a new CEC has not yet started, as consultations between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are still pending.
The constitution mandates that the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader must confer on the appointments of the CEC and its members. The issue will escalate to a parliamentary committee if they fail to agree.
The National Assembly Speaker will establish a committee of 12 members, split evenly between the government and the opposition, to resolve the appointment disputes.
If the committee cannot reach a consensus, it will consider three nominees for each position.
The new CEC and members must be appointed within 45 days. Meanwhile, the current CEC and members will maintain their roles.
Eligibility for the CEC role includes former Supreme Court judges, technocrats, and bureaucrats under 68 years. For Election Commission members, former High Court judges, bureaucrats, and technocrats under 65 years are eligible.
