Fakhru Bhai denies he is resigning as CEC

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim has vehemently denied speculations of his likely resignation as rumour mill was running high Monday following an implied disclosure by Babar Awan who wrote in a newspaper that the top ECP guy was ready to resign.

“There is not an iota of truth in it,” Ebrahim said when contacted for comments. As told about the ‘revelation’ in this respect by Babar Awan who has returned to article writing after his disgraceful exit from the power corridors, the CEC said he did not have any interaction with Babar Awan and wondered how he crafted this piece of ‘information’.

The speculations about the CEC’s likely resignation set alarm bells ringing among the political circles as affectionately known Fakhru Bhai has a history of such resignations in the past. Sources close to him say he tendered resignations for the sake of principles.

Babar Awan had stated in his column quoting a source in Margalla which he called his “Shaheen”, like the “chirya” of a prominent TV anchor, that the top guy of ECP had prepared his resignation in protest.

A week ago, Fakhru Bhai acknowledged he was under intense pressure due to the nature of assignments. Talking to Ahmed Noorani of The News, he had talked of being under stress due to the gigantic task of delimitation in Karachi.

Fakhru Bhai said all but one party was resisting to the Supreme Court’s decision in this respect, nevertheless, he had to move forward as there would be no question of elections there without delimitation and voters’ verification in the biggest city of Pakistan.

He sounded quite confident to move ahead with this task assigned by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and already endorsed by the Election Commission of Pakistan on December 13. This change came after his surprise meeting at Nadra Headquarters with Army chief General Kayani. It was a one-on-one meeting for almost 45 minutes.

However, last Wednesday, Fakhru Bhai surprised all and sundry when told the media that he was opposed to the delimitation of constituencies in Karachi.

Widely respected Fakhru Bhai who would never compromise on his principles is also perceived to have a downside too that he doesn’t sustain immense pressure. This time, it is in the shape of Supreme Court’s decision on the delimitation. He had resigned from the governor’s slot during Benazir Bhutto’s first government. Political drawing rooms are abuzz with the discussions about the possible scenario of his resignation in case he does so when the elections are close.

According to the Constitutional Amendment, the chief election commissioner is appointed with the mutual consent of the prime minister and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. By the time elections are near, the Assembly would have been dissolved meaning there would be no elected prime minister and no leader of the opposition.

In such a situation, one view is that the Senate’s opposition leader will work in place of that of National Assembly’s and caretaker PM in consultation with him to appoint a new CEC. In case of any disagreement between them, Senate’s parliamentary committee will perform the function of the National Assembly’s to finalise the names floated by the opposition leader and the caretaker prime minister.

But there is no credible explanation in the Constitution on what will happen and the matter may have to be decided by the Supreme Court in the ultimate analysis. The elections could also be delayed for that much time.

Posted in: National