LAHORE: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan Justice retired Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has resigned from his post on Wednesday. Ebrahim has sent his resignation letter to President Asif Ali Zardari for approval.
“I was appointed through a consultative process by the last Parliament. My constitutional term ends in 2017. However, in my humble opinion, the newly elected members of Parliament should have the opportunity to forge new consensus and choose a new Chief Election Commissioner. This will also allow the next Chief Election Commissioner sufficient time and opportunity to prepare and lead the Election Commission for the general elections of 2018,” said Ebrahim in his resignation letter.
The CEC’s resignation has come a day after the presidential polls in the country, in which Mamnoon Hussain was Elected 12th President of Pakistan. The presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar has confirmed the receipt of Ebrahim’s letter.
According to some media reports, Ebrahim was displeased by the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to reschedule the presidential polls, but he could not go against the apex court as other members of the Election Commission did not support him in this regard.
Ebrahim was largely criticised by political parties due to alleged rigging in the general elections in May 2013 and regarding the rescheduling of presidential polls by the Supreme Court. Some parties also demanded Ebrahim’s resignation.
The opposition leader in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah has welcomed the resignation and demanded that other members of the Election Commission should also tender their resignations.
