President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed the former judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan Hamid Ali Mirza as new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), said presidential spokesman on Tuesday. Hamid Ali Mirza was appointed the new CEC on the retirement of Qazi Farooq Ahmed. Qazi Farooq was appointed CEC in March 2006 and retired on completion of his tenure on March 14.
He had replaced the sitting Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar three years back who then was heading the CEC as acting Chief. The appointment of Mirza as new CEC has ended all the rumours that the government may appoint Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar again in the EC on his retirement from Supreme Court on March 21, 2009.