ECP expresses inability to hold election for PCB chairman

LAHORE: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed its inability to conduct the election for the Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the pretext that it does not have the mandate to do so.

PCB authorities contacted us on this issue in the light of the decision of the Islamabad High Court but we have expressed our inability, said the sources in the ECP while talking to APP here on Monday.They said the PCB, following the directions of the apex court, approached the ECP for conducting election for the PCB's chairman and also sent the copy of the decision of the court.

We can't conduct the election for chairman PCB as it is not our mandate and that is why we have expressed our inability, they said, adding that the ECP will have the same plea in the court if its opinion will be sought on the issue.

Sources in the PCB confirmed that they had sent a request to the ECP to hold the election in which elected presidents of the regional and district bodies besides the representatives of the departments affiliated with the PCB would have elected the new chairman.

The court had stopped the then Chairman, Muhammad Zaka Ashraf from working as the Chairman PCB, terming his election dubious.

They said the ECP is of the view that if it conducts the election of chairman PCB it will set a new precedent and then onwards it (ECP) will be under obligation to hold elections of various institutions who will be seeking relief from the courts.