15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is likely to replace Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan , as acting CEC when the latter relinquish his post on Saturday after completing three years in office.

On December 28 last year, Mr Khan had expressed his willingness to leave the office on Jan 15 after the completion of his tenure.

Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar twice served as the acting CEC after being nominated by the Chief Justice of Pakistan under Article 217 of the Constitution which states that: At any time when the office of commissioner is vacant or the commissioner is absent or unable to perform the functions of his office due to any other cause, a judge of the Supreme Court, nominated by the CJ, shall act as commissioner.

Law Minister Wasi Zafar also told Dawn that the CJ would nominate a judge from the top court to act as the acting CEC. Ever since the appointment of the Mr Khan as the CEC, the opposition had been demanding the appointment of an "impartial commission." Mr Khan was named chief election commissioner after he retired as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2001.