Fakhruddin G Ebrahim Chief Election Commissioner resigns

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has tendered his resignation. The resignation has been sent to the presidency for approval.

“I want the new parliament to elect a new Chief Election Commissioner,” Ebrahim said.

Ebrahim a former Supreme Court judge was appointed as the CEC on 23 July 2012. The May 11 general elections and the presidential election were conducted during his tenure.

Ebrahim, one of the country’s most respected jurists, oversaw the May 11, 2013 general elections of Pakistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari had approved the appointment of Ebrahim as the new Chief Election Commissioner in July 2012 after a parliamentary panel selected him for the crucial post. He was the 24th individual to occupy the post after 12 permanent and 11 acting chief election commissioners.He was expected to hold the position for five years.

Ebrahim had remained a popular choice for interim governments mainly because of his high social status, he served as the interim Law Minister from 18 July 1993 until 19 October 1993, and interim Justice Minister from 5 November 1996 until 17 February 1997. Ebrahim is a retired Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and Senior Advocate Supreme Court and is known also as a peace activist. He was the Attorney General of Pakistan during the government of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and served as his close legal adviser throughout the 1970s. In 1988, he was also Governor of Sindh, appointed by the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto during her first term

Commenting on the resignation, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said all other officials of the ECP should also resign.Ebrahim had been criticized for rigging during the general elections and the recent change in the polling date for the presidential election.

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