Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, on Wednesday resigned from his post. In his resignation which he addressed to President Asif Ali Zardari, he said he had done his job to hold elections and it was time for the new Parliament to appoint his successor, so that the new ECP chief could get ample time for holding elections in 2018.
"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," he said. Therefore, in accordance with Article 215(3) of the Constitution, I hereby resign from the office of the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, he said. The outgoing election chief said that he performed his job despite personal threats. "Despite personal threats and even brazen gun attack on my family - I quietly stood firm against those forces who first tried to derail and then delay the 2013 Elections," he added.
He regretted the violence in the run up to the May 11 general election in which people were killed but also expressed his satisfaction over successful first ever political transition under a civilian government. "Now, the transition from one elected civilian government to another has been completed for the first time in the 66-year history of our great country. It is belated and has come with much sacrifice. Too many have fallen at the hands of terrorists - political workers, teachers, lawyers, journalists, members of police and armed forces, government servants and ordinary men and women have all paid a high price. Even children have not been spared. Aimal Khan, age 6 was shot along with his father, a candidate for elections, when they came out from their neighbourhood mosque after Friday prayers during the campaign. These are the true heroes of our democratic struggle," he said.
He maintained he took oath of office of the Chief Election Commissioner on July 23, 2012, approximately nine months prior to the General Elections. "I did not seek this high office, but in fact accepted the same with reluctance, upon persuasion from senior members of Parliament that he was the only person on whom the members of the opposition and the government could both agree upon." During his tenure as CEC, he openly opposed some of the decisions of Supreme Court of Pakistan. Delimitation of Karachi before general election and again SC's decision to change the presidential poll schedule are few cases where CEC opposed.