SC tells PM, opposition leader to appoint new CEC by Nov 13

Apex court rejects Khursheed Shah's request for three-month extension to appointment deadline

KARACHI: Rejecting a request by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah to extend the deadline to appoint a new chief election commissioner, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Shah and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif  to fill the post by November 13, Express News reported.

The Supreme Court on October 14 gave the federal government two weeks to appoint a permanent CEC, or else it will withdraw its judge, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, who is currently serving as acting CEC.

Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, who was appointed as the 13th CEC, had resigned on July 30, 2013 – a day after the presidential polls for which opposition parties accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of failing to ensure impartiality.

Shah had filed a plea a few days ago, seeking an extension to the deadline by three months. However, the apex court today rejected the request and told Aitzaz Ahsan - who is representing Shah in the court - to appoint new CEC in next two weeks.