President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday assented to the appointment of Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim as the chief election commissioner (CEC) The Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the CEC had agreed with consensus on the nomination of Ebrahim as CEC. Accordingly, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs requested the prime minister to advise the president to accord his assent to the said nomination. On Friday, the president assented to the appointment of Fakhruddin G Ebrahim at a special ceremony held at the Presidency. The president felicitated the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the CEC for reaching a consensus on the name of Ebrahim by demonstrating political maturity and wisdom. He said the appointment of a consensus CEC would enhance confidence in the election and the electoral process, which was a critical element for political stability and orderly transfer of power. The president also felicitated the newly appointed CEC, saying his consensus based nomination by all political parties was a reflection of his standing and the confidence imposed in him. Fakhruddin G Ebrahim is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a senior advocate. He served as the Attorney General of Pakistan during the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and remained his close legal adviser.
