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KARACHI: Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim resigned from his post on Wednesday, a week after the Supreme Court ordered the commission to hold presidential polls ahead of its original schedule.
“In accordance with Article 215(3) of the Constitution, I hereby resign from the office of the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan,” said Ebrahim in his resignation letter to the president, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.
“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 the letter which has been submitted to the president for approval.
The presidential spokesman confirmed receipt of the letter.
Ebrahim's resignation comes after the Election Commission and the Supreme Court came under fire from lawmakers during a session of the National Assembly and the Senate, with some members demanding that the chief election commissioner resign from his post.
Presidential elections were originally scheduled by the Election Commission to be held on August 6, and the commission had earlier rejected a government request to change the date of the poll.
However, two days later the Supreme Court ordered the commission to hold elections on July 30 as sought by the federal government in a petition filed in the court.
The CEC was displeased by the Supreme Court’s decision, and saw it as “an encroachment into the domain of the ECP by the apex court mandated under the constitution,” an official of the commission had told Dawn.
According to the report, Ebrahim had written a note declaring the court’s decision an attack on the independence of the ECP, and wanted his fellow members to endorse it and hold the election according to the original schedule. However, he was unable to get the support of three of the four available members.
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Comments (55) Closed
Jul 31, 2013 05:40pm
One may criticize him for the failure to hold fair elections. But at least he has realized this and resigned. A little too late but still welcomed move. Better than many others who are holding important posts, commit blunders and do not have the courage to own it.
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Jul 31, 2013 05:50pm
Hats off to the few who have a spine in the country.
Congratulations to you sir for your service.
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Jul 31, 2013 05:59pm
I wish he had resigned after the general elections. He would have been able to salvage the reputation that was tarnished due to rigging in the elections and inaction of the EC.
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Jul 31, 2013 06:06pm
Should have resigned earlier. I think he is the part of the game being played and have screwed the system too.
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Jul 31, 2013 06:06pm
Mr Fakhrudin why didn't you resign even before the general elections....its very obvious that you were working for PML-N...after you gave them the seat of prime minister and president , filled your pocket with billions , now you can easily retire overseas with all the loot. All and all it's just another brick in the wall.
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Jul 31, 2013 06:22pm
I am relieved by his timely resignation. He did every thing by the book. He is undoubtedly a great man perhaps the only one in Pakistan"s history with ego, dignity, self respect and intelligence. I salute you Fakhroo Bhai. May God bless you.
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Jul 31, 2013 06:24pm
Done a good thing. Set a good precedent. I wish him peaceful retired life.
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Jul 31, 2013 06:31pm
The shameful Chief Justice should immediately resign and impeached
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Jul 31, 2013 06:44pm
Good that he resigned, we do not need ineffective and un-accountable leaders. Perhaps his job of presiding over the biggest rigging was completed after prime minister and president selection.
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Jul 31, 2013 06:54pm
CJ has not resigned yet?
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Jul 31, 2013 06:55pm
Streamlining the pain staking procedures with loopholes of election , across the board transparency and equality, conduct of elections (under prevailing insecure and volatile environment) are the dividends of untiring efforts by this election commission team spearheaded by Honourable justice Mr F.G Ibrahim. Though real essence of democracy still may be a far cry as far as character, education,devotion, sincerity and services of law makers are concerned, along with much needed further refinement in electoral process based on justice and competition to serve people. Still the services of this commission for this nascent and mal-nutritional democracy are worthy of praise. After presidential election Mr Ibrahim's resignation is an awakening call which amply highlights the bad taste between the institutions. Nevertheless the day belongs to Honourable RETIRED Justice F.G Ibrahim.
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Jul 31, 2013 07:05pm
His resignation has come a bit too late. He should have resigned during general election when reports of rigging started coming and he could not control the rigging..
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Jul 31, 2013 07:09pm
Now it is very good time to take resignation from Chief Justice of Sharif courts His Highness, Qibla, Janab shadeed Mohtram Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry
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Jul 31, 2013 07:48pm
He made the right decision, SC should have not forced their verdict on ECP. Mr. Fakhruddin enjoys a very good reputation and he should not get his name tainted because of weak members of team and ongoing intervention by SC.
Thanks for your services.
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Jul 31, 2013 08:05pm
He failed to protect constitutional guaranteed independence and sanctity of ECP entrusted to him..and should have taken stand right after the judgement of supreme court. Or he should have resigned at that time in protest. Now in history he will be judged as incompetent and inefficient who lacked moral courage to defend constitutional rights of his office.
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Jul 31, 2013 08:09pm
now admit that u conducted rigged elections
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Jul 31, 2013 08:17pm
The next step should be that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court resigns. What a mockery His Lordship has made of the judicial system!
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Jul 31, 2013 08:32pm
Who was the courageous member who endorsed FGI's note?
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Jul 31, 2013 08:54pm
In order for Pakistan to have cleaner elections, surely there are lessons to be learned about methods to use and methods not to use to ensure a fair vote. Should the CEC not also leave some advice for future use. They should write an advisory report as to what to do and what not to do for the future elections. This is the only way to learn lessons from the past.
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Jul 31, 2013 09:10pm
easy come, easy go. destroyed the whole election process and sitting pretty at home. no moral burden neither responsibility. this is Pakistan we are living in.... ufff
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Jul 31, 2013 09:30pm
The man with conscience had no other alternative, but to resign. G. Fakhruddin has been a ture bearer of torch of justice.
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Jul 31, 2013 09:46pm
Right decision Sir.
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Jul 31, 2013 10:00pm
Bravo!
It is nice to see that there are still people alive in Pakistan who will do the right thing. Alas he is an old man!
However, what is more dangerous is to see that the other members of the ECP have revealed their true colors.
Two points:
First: This reminds me of the time when Gen. Musharraf asked the SC judges to take oath under the PCO and six Sindh based judges refused and resigned where as the remaining including the present Chief justice agreed an became PCO judges.
Second: This actually may confirm the allegations that some pople had against the ECP that Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim had just been set up by PPP and PML - N and they had really worked thru the second tier of the ECP to achievve their election objectives.
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Jul 31, 2013 10:01pm
This is resignation should have come with an apology and should have been tendered much earlier. The elections were a massive failure. The ECP did not have simple common sense logic to ensure fair and free elections. They called the army but kept them outside. MQM rigged every single ballot box in Karachi and they could do nothing. It was mismanaged, badly planned and in the dark ages. Imagine this, if you ask anyone in Karachi who voted anywhere on the other side of the bridge, they will tell you one thing. We wanted to vote for x party but MQM forced us to vote for them. Now isn
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Jul 31, 2013 10:01pm
Thanks but no thanks.
You have done a serious damage to this nation will be remembered for 5 years. Shame on you Fakhro.
At least share with us why did you choose to become CEC when you could not deliver. Either you were impotent or you made tons of money.
What is correct?
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Jul 31, 2013 10:07pm
What we have here a court which is unnecessarily trying to be proactive. Holding election is the responsibility of ECP. Court had no business to interfere.G,Ibrahim has taken a courageous step. Shame on other members who succumbed to pressure. Impression among the public is that court has been pro Nawaz Sharif & PML(N), this impression to some extent is justified.
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Jul 31, 2013 10:17pm
Good he is Gone Hope CJ will follow as well to get the dirt out of Country Judicial system.
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Jul 31, 2013 10:22pm
Fakhro bhai sets good ddemocratic tradition. Parliament should demand resignation from three members of the commission who differs with Fakhro bhai.nation need resolution of this conflict completely
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Jul 31, 2013 10:33pm
Why in our all departments political involvement is their .let the people do their job politians mind their own bussiness .
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Jul 31, 2013 10:40pm
This is balony! First Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim screws the election. Secondly, he conveniently resigns so the anti-Pakistan government can fullfill their agenda with the help of kangroo courts.
He should stay his ground in the better interest of the country and if he thinks Judiciary is encroaching it's position then he needs to follow proper procedure against Judiciary.
Judiciary in Pakistan has become a tool of intimidation rather than Justice and this needs to be stopped.
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Jul 31, 2013 10:48pm
had you to resign soon after the election, you have had not loose your dignity sir - infact you have done a big mistake of taking this great responsibility in a corrupt election process
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Jul 31, 2013 10:51pm
It is honourable. But, it is too little too late. He should have resigned the moment SC ordered him to change the election date. Damage to the office is done.
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Jul 31, 2013 10:54pm
Right move by Fakhru Bhai. Ideally, he should have resigned before holding the presidential election.
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Jul 31, 2013 11:32pm
I can't understand why is it so hard for people in Pakistan to adhere to the rules and regulations as set by the laws of the land. Why does one branch of the government unfairly interferes with the affairs of the other bodies of the government. More than half of the problems of the country could be resolved if people are held accountable for their actions and pay the price of their mistakes. In the case of the CEC resigning due to the orders of the court, I don't understand what is the big hurry to of holding the elections 6 days early, in fact why are we even going against our own laws when it clearly states the presidential election will be held on August 6.
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Jul 31, 2013 11:39pm
Finally Fakhru Bahi resigned. He should have done it a long time ago. We all knew that he never handled pressure, especially at the age of 86 he was not capable to held fair elections. As Election Commissioner he failed to fulfill his responsibilities. May 11th elections were rigged and he did not take any action. PTI is justified by accusing PEC for failing to held fair and free elections. In nutshell Fakhru Sahib damaged his good name and credibility.
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Aug 01, 2013 12:41am
Man of Character! Not a lot of them in Pakistan
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Aug 01, 2013 12:49am
CEC helped Nawaz Sharif all out in the elections but unfortunately Nawaz Shariff betrayed him yet again. Not good Mr. PM!! Fakhru Bhai, I wish you had resigned on the day of elections and declared them faulty!!
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Aug 01, 2013 01:04am
Good Riddance.
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Aug 01, 2013 01:16am
thank you
what you have already done with us by imposing ganjum government on us was sufficient. u shall always be remembered in the history of Pakistan for doing such a dirt work
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Aug 01, 2013 01:41am
We are a thankless nation. Fakhru Bhai is a man of integrity
and did his best to do justice as the chief election commissioner.
Since we are the most divided nation on earth on any and all
issues it is no surprise that Fakhru Bhai has had to face such
senseless criticism.
In a country where the holiday retreat in Quetta of our Founder
Is burnt to ashes it is no surprise that we do not have any respect
for anyone.
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Aug 01, 2013 02:28am
Although the last elections were far from fair and transparent, I am happy Mr. Fakhruddin G Ibraim has taken a stance in the right direction. He is a man of intigrity, though he failed to lead CEC to deliver it responsibility effectively in May elections. The Apex court is going out of its way to please the new government in any way it can and in this instance it has trespassed the line of CEC's autonomy.
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Aug 01, 2013 03:43am
He has fulfilled job assigned by his masters and now resigns in peace
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Aug 01, 2013 03:54am
While J Ibrahim came with huge applaud, he now departs with a notorious name. Indeed, It was difficult for him keep the standards intact, while, top institution (SC) is in a race to override some selected rivals.
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Aug 01, 2013 03:56am
Supreme court's decision was unfortunately unlawful.
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Aug 01, 2013 04:17am
SC's action supporting Government. is understandable, CC is due for retirement this year
and is seeking extension.
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Aug 01, 2013 04:22am
SC's comment is understandable as his term expire this year and he very much wants an extension.
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Aug 01, 2013 05:11am
Who cares?
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Aug 01, 2013 07:01am
Why resign now after all the damage?
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Aug 01, 2013 07:36am
Thank you , much much appreciated for your work done.
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Aug 01, 2013 10:05am
With the election of the President, his job is over - a job well done. So he resigned. What a joke with this nation of hapless people !
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Aug 01, 2013 10:34am
Hats off, he goes with dignity,
Also offering alternative reasons for resignation shows does not want any further confrontation or looking for cheap publicity like some of our new leaders.
I remember when he was the Governor of Sindh he had taken a bold steps to remove illegal hawkers and encroachments in Karachi specially in Saddar area, for which he came under lot of pressure because these illegal hawkers were a source of additional pocket money for lot of agencies.
This guy may be small in stature but after this move he stands tall then many others.
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Aug 01, 2013 12:01pm
Fakhroo Bhai should have resigned the day secretary election commission admitted in front of media that the EC failed in conducting free,fair and transparent elections.
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Aug 01, 2013 01:43pm
What more could he do. He did what he was appointed for - managed the most rigged election in the history of Pakistan. He was the most incompetent CEC in the country's history. No doubt he is clean. Time will tell how much money was used to buy the other members of the Election Commission. And with the PML N government and new parliament one can only expect the worse to come.
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Aug 02, 2013 09:37am
In this age group, Fakhru Bhai himself marred his good reputation. It is a pity. He should not have accepted the portfolio in the first place. Unhappy ending..!
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Aug 03, 2013 03:57am
@Ghalib Khan:
Well said man
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