August 4, 2021 ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could be forced to function for a long period without replacing two of its members who retired last month after completing their constitutionally-mandated five-year tenure. The reason: there is little likelihood of any contact between the two principal parties that have to agree to the appointments. The process could see a repeat of the 2019 deadlock over picking two other ECP members, who had then retired. Once again, Prime Minister Imran Khan and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif are meant to select the new members through a meaningful and result-oriented consultation.