EC officers to gain path to secretary posts under revised law

The interim government has approved a draft amendment to create an “Election Commission Service”, opening a long-awaited path for Election Commission (EC) Secretariat officers to be promoted to secretary-level posts. The approval came on Thursday during a meeting of the Advisory Council, which cleared the draft Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The ordinance will be issued once signed by the president. The 2009 law currently requires the EC Secretariat to consist of a secretary and other staff appointed under government rules. Until now, senior posts including deputy secretary, joint secretary, additional secretary and secretary were filled through deputation from the civil service, leaving no scope for EC’s own officers to rise to the top. To strengthen EC’s independence and...