The PILDAT Democracy Monitor attempts to delineate the various developments, both negative and positive, that have affected the quality of democracy in Pakistan during the second year of the Federal Government in office from June 01, 2014 to May 31, 2015.
Positive Developments affecting the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan: June 01, 2014-May 31, 2015
Political
Maturity saves Democracy
Members of the Jirga, comprising
representatives of parties such as the PPP, NP, JI, etc., played an active role
to resolve the crisis between the protesting parties and the PML-N Government1
One of the greatest achievements of the political process in Pakistan has been the coming together of the elected political parties in the Parliament behind the Federal Government to save democracy from an onslaught by PTI and PAT.
The maturity and support was manifested by the condemnation issued against the sit-ins by almost all the major political parties such as the PPP, JUI-F, ANP, PMAP, NP, etc., during the Joint Session of the Parliament convened on September 02, 2014.2 In a development considered unprecedented in the history of Pakistan’s democracy, the Session saw the Parliament stand united behind the elected Prime Minister and reaffirm its commitment to democracy. An Opposition Jirga was also formed, consisting of members belonging to the PPP, NP, PML and JI to act as mediators and resolve the differences between the PTI, PAT and the Government on the issue of electoral rigging.
Although the same period saw considerable turn-out at the sit-in organized at D-Chowk, and the protest rallies organized by PTI across Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan’s call for Civil Disobedience was not well heeded by the general public. The disturbances were largely a localized phenomenon, and did not transpire into a nation-wide movement. Therefore, the larger public, prima facie, made a decision to stay away from attempts to topple the Government through means considered unconstitutional by many.
Greater
Transparency: Provincial Assembly of the Punjab releases Members’ Attendance
Online
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab has
made attendance available online on its website now
In a welcome development, the Provincial Assembly
of the Punjab became Pakistan’s first Legislature to release the attendance
of its members online. The initiative covers the attendance of all the legislators
from the 12th session onward of the current 16th Assembly.3
PILDAT lauds the decision by the elected leadership of the Assembly for taking the much-needed initiative. Citizens need to know the attendance and performance of their elected representatives, and withholding of this key information by other Legislatures violates every basic requirement of representation and of transparency, a cornerstone of a democratic polity.4
It is therefore recommended that the leadership of the other Legislatures, especially that of the National Assembly of Pakistan, follow the commendable precedent set by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. Relevantly, developed Legislatures, such as the Indian Parliament, also post attendance of the members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on their official website regularly.
Positive
Developments on Local Government Elections in Pakistan
Local Government elections in the
Cantonments, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan during the second year of the
current Government were one of the positive developments for Pakistan’s
democracy5
The period under consideration finally saw some
positive movement on Local Government elections primarily because of the country’s
superior judiciary exerting pressure on the Federal and Provincial Governments
on an issue on which the latter had been dragging their feet.
Balochistan achieved the distinction on January 28, 2015 of being the first province with fully functional Local Governments.6 It was a measure of the Balochistan Government’s commitment to the principal of devolution of power that despite political maneuverings, security threats, and legal challenges, it managed to hold elections to the third-tier of the Government.
Additionally, the country also witnessed elections to the 42 Cantonment Boards on April 25, 2015 after a disappointing span of 17 years.7The results saw the PML-N emerge victorious followed by Independent candidates, and the PTI. As per the Local Government Ordinance, 2002, each Board comprises equal number of elected and appointed members, with the latter being appointed by the Military’s Station Commander for the Cantonment. The Chair of the Board also possesses veto powers. Many believed that this provision is contrary to the emerging dynamics of Cantonments, which are no longer out-of-city and exclusively Army centres with a sprawling urban, civilian population. However, considering that Cantonments are still primarily the conserve of Military installations, PILDAT believes there is a strong justification for this arrangement.
Local Government polls were also held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 30, 2015. Although significant irregularities and acts of mismanagement were observed in the elections, the blame of which party lies with the Provincial Government and mostly with the ECP, the bottom-line remains that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now has an elected Local Government setup, whereas elections are still to be held in Sindh and Punjab on September 20, 2015. Although the Local Governments’ institution is laudable, PILDAT believes that the laws governing them need to be improved as these limit the scope of the Local Governments, are deferential to the Provincial Governments, and do not devolve comprehensive financial, political and administrative powers to the Local Government setup. Specifically, arbitrary powers granted to the Provincial Governments such as that of discretionary removal of elected Local Government representatives, and arbitrary powers of inspection, are of concern. 8
Moves
for Greater oversight: Pakistan Senate amends its Rules of Procedure and Conduct
of Business
As of May 06, 2015, the emblem of the Pakistan
Senate has been changed to include the words ‘House of the Federation’.
PILDAT believes that all Legislatures, including the Provincial ones, are ‘Houses
of the Federation’, and it is somewhat strange for the Pakistan Senate
to reserve the title for itself 9 The addition was unnecessary but
if at all something was to be added, it would have been more apt to call it
‘House of the Federating Units’
In a welcome development, the Pakistan Senate
made certain amendments and additions to its Rules of Procedure on April 15,
2015, that underscored the Parliament rightfully asserting itself and taking
more seriously its duties of oversight.
Apart from the much needed additions to augment the Senate’s Question Hour, and the constitution of the House by itself as a Committee of the whole, perhaps the most significant addition was one requiring the Ministers to appear before the House and making reports on ‘all matters referred by the House and recommendations made by [the Senate’s] Committees.’ 10
PILDAT believes that this requirement of regular answers from the Executive on the recommendations and reports made by Senate and its Committees was much needed. However, in addition, the leadership of the House might also consider further amending the Rules of Procedure to include the presentation of an ‘Action Taken Report’ to the Senate by the concerned Ministry, after every month, or whatever time is considered suitable, containing the Ministry’s compliance, or an explanation for any delay faced in it, by any matter referred to it by the House. The proposed Report should address the concerns of the members on a point-by-point basis, and its status may also be included in the monthly consolidated list of matters issued by the House and recommendations made by the Committees under the recently added Rule 265A (3).
In addition, PILDAT also commends the Public Petition Portal recently launched by the Pakistan Senate.11 In the past, the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court had started the initiative, which is a somewhat unconventional role for the Judiciary. It is much more appropriate for the Parliament to examine public petitions, in line with its duty of representing the people and their concerns. PILDAT hopes that the infrastructure surrounding the public petition system, including the human resource, equipment, and a budget, is adequately provided for in order for it to be efficient and effective. In case the petitions are not responded to within a specific time, or are not given the adequate attention, it will lead to further disillusionment of the people with the Parliament.
Stay
Order on Lahore’s Signal Free Corridor: A significant judgment for Local
Governments?
Work is yet to start again on Lahore’s
Signal Free Corridor by the LDA following the Supreme Court’s suspension
of the Lahore High Court’s verdict 12
On May 14, 2015, a three-members bench of the
Supreme Court suspended the Lahore High Court’s decision of stopping the
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) from carrying out any projects till the Local
Government elections in Punjab. However, PILDAT believes that the detailed judgment
of the Lahore High Court (LHC) is worthy of a nuanced consideration.
Although the LHC’s criticism of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) inability to discharge its duties as an independent agency, and the appointment of a civil-servant as its head at the discretion of the Provincial Government is valuable, it is the Court’s expansion on the concept Local Government that is critically relevant. Taking root from a comparative analysis of the Local Government Systems of South Africa, India and Pakistan, the LHC asserted that the Local Government System, while drawing its design and recognition from the Constitution, draws its powers from the Provincial Assembly. “However, the executive authority of the Provincial Government in the absence of any legislation could not extend to the affairs of the Local Government which operated under a legislative structure.13 On this point, it seems that the Court has departed from its designated duties, choosing to perhaps prescribe legislation on the concept of Local Government.
Regardless, the LHC’s judgment must be commended for asserting the elected Local Governments’ authority vis-à-vis institutions such as the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). The Provincial Government of Punjab should ensure that effective powers are devolved to the Local Government setup, which should not in anyway be usurped by authorities such as the LDA.
Negative Developments Affecting the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan: June 01, 2014-May 31, 2015
Sit-ins
by the PTI and the PAT
Dark clouds can be seen hovering as the PTI and the PAT protestors remain encamped outside the Parliament14
In this context, the remarks made by Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif, and two Supreme Court judges during January 2015 are
of relevance. Regarding the formation of Military Courts, the Prime Minister
stated that ‘the independence of the Judiciary was essential but
equally important is the performance of the Judiciary. The pendency
of numerous cases has contributed towards law and order issues’.
Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, however, in an
apparent rejoinder, listed inefficient investigations and weak prosecutions
as the primary reasons for delays and rising backlog of cases pending in courts.39 This debate lies at the heart of the Military
Courts’ formation. Although there has been persistent criticism of the
country’s judiciary for low number of convictions in terrorism related
cases, the investigation and prosecution branches of the Government must be
held responsible as well, as no person can be punished without evidence, no
matter what the public perception is. Therefore, the question that needs to be answered
is: How is the Government planning to improve the civilian justice system
in two years’ time when the 21st Constitutional Amendment will terminate?
In light of the fact that little or no recommendations have been floated in
this regard, it is feared that we may see the Government reverting back to
the Parliament in two years’ time, seeking an extension of Military
Courts. Lastly, in the context of democracy, significant
apprehensions regarding a lack of transparency and doubts about the Military
Courts’ ability to safeguard provision of basic rights, such as following
the due process of law, remain. These fears were further compounded by the
promulgation of the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 which PILDAT
duly noted in its Civil-Military Relations Monitor for April 201540. Perhaps
for the same reason, a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court issued a stay
order on the first batch of executions ordered by the Military Courts on April
16, 2015. As the May 05, 2015 deadline to hold election
of half the Senators drew close, allegations of horse-trading, a regular feature
of the Senate elections, reached a deafening pitch. The final result, however,
was more or less in consonance with the party positions in each Legislature.
The few instances of aberrations, not necessarily the result of horse-trading
but of genuine liking for a candidate not from the voter’s party, therefore
did not necessitate the charged political discussion regarding amending the
Constitution. This was aimed at changing Article 59 (1), 63 A, and 226 to
introduce open balloting in Senate elections, along with the disqualification
of the legislator in case he or she did not abide by the party guidelines
on voting. PILDAT believes that the problem was not so widespread as to introduce
a Constitutional Amendment, especially one drafted in such haste without any
referral to the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms. If passed, it
would have added to the suffocation observed amidst strict centralization
within political parties, curtailing a democratic right of dissent. The second disappointment was the Ordinance
issued by the President of Pakistan just a few hours before the election on
March 05, 2015, which gave each Fata MNA only one vote for the Senate election,
compared to as many votes as the number of vacant seats previously43. Although
Article 59 (1)(b) of the Constitution leaves the manner of election of FATA
Senators to the President who may prescribe it through an order, the ill-timed
decree was a cause of confusion for the ECP, and was rightfully withdrawn
amidst protests by the FATA legislators. The justification given again was
the fears of vote selling not only because the FATA MNAs constitute the smallest
Electoral College but also because most of them are independent and therefore
do not subscribe to party discipline.44 PILDAT believes that instead of introducing
such ill-timed amendments to the election procedure, strengthening political
parties in the tribal areas will improve the quality of Senate elections.
Experience has shown that organised and democratic political parties are a
much better guarantee against malpractices. Considering that 6 of the total
11 (55%) FATA MNAs are independent (i.e. not affiliated to any political party),
political parties have not been able to make any significant inroads in the
region, perhaps contributing to its ostensible political alienation from the
rest of the federating units. Table1: APCs held during the 2nd Year
of the current Government No. Date Issue
Discussed 1.
December
17, 2014 To
draft an action plan to counter the increasing tide of terrorism in
Pakistan, especially after the Peshawar Tragedy on December 16, 2014 2.
December
24, 2014 To
forge consensus on the National Action Plan (NAP) formed to counter
terrorism in Pakistan 3.
January
02, 2015 Approval
of the National Action Plan (NAP) including the formation of Military
Courts to counter the growing tide of terrorism 4. May
13, 2015 To
evolve consensus on the multi-billion dollar Pakistan-China Economic
Corridor 5. May
28, 2015 To
allay the concerns of various political parties regarding Pakistan-China
Economic Corridor It is inexplicable and to the detriment of the institution
of the Parliament that in the presence of Parliament, All Parties Conferences
are organized to achieve so-called political consensus on issues. Parliament
represents public’s elected representatives belonging to all key parties
who have been empowered to take policy decisions, develop policy guidelines
and develop consensus on behalf of the citizens. PILDAT has always commended the Government’s utilization
of the Parliament to announce decisions such as the Treason Trial against
Gen. (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf, the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, etc. However,
in the same vein, it is regrettable that majority of the Parliamentarians
were unable to give input on the National Action Plan, and the Pakistan-China
Economic Corridor, because of the APCs convened. This not only contravenes
an effective and thorough debate that is usually to take place in the Parliament,
but also sidelines a sovereign institution that is Constitutionally designated
for such matters. Additionally, following the recently-concluded Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Local Government elections, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called
for an APC over alleged rigging in the polls46. This shows that not only are
the Legislatures being sidelined by this new phenomenon, but also the Constitutionally
prescribed mechanisms for electoral dispute resolution, i.e. the Election
Tribunals. Apart from the Local Government elections,
this development signifies another instance of the superior Judiciary exerting
pressure on the Government (in this case for a timely appointment of the head
of a Constitutionally mandated body), with the latter dragging its feet. Disappointingly,
the Apex Court gave the Government a total of four deadlines in 2014 (October
28, November 13, November 25 and December 05) for the appointment48. Considering
the controversy surrounding the Election Commission of Pakistan vis-à-vis
General Election 2013, due and lengthy consideration given to the appointment
is understandable. However, a drawn-out lapse of 16-months is not 1. Picture courtesy Daily Jang 2. For details, please see Joint Parliamentary session
today to display unity, Daily Times, September 02, 2014, as accessed on
May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/02-Sep-2014/joint-parliamentary-session-today-to-display-unity 3. The attendance record can be accessed at the Provincial
Assembly of the Punjab website at: http://www.pap.gov.pk/ext/attendance.php 4. PILDAT, which has been advocating for greater transparency
in the Parliament for years, has repeatedly asked the National Assembly
of Pakistan to provide the attendance records of individual members publicly,
finally invoking the Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002, upon the
Secretariat’s refusal to provide attendance records. PILDAT appealed to
the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman), which upheld PILDAT’s point of
view to provide the requested attendance records. The National Assembly
chose to file an appeal against the verdict and the case is pending with
the President of Pakistan for the past many months. PILDAT hopes that
the Honourable President would decide in favour of greater transparency,
especially in light of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab’s decision
to publicly provide attendance record of its members. 5. Picture courtesy daily Dawn 6. For details, please see Balochistan completes the
final phase of Local Government elections, Daily Times, January 29, 2015,
as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/29-Jan-2015/balochistan-completes-final-phase-of-local-govt-elections 7. For details, please see PML-N leads Cantonment Board
elections: unofficial results, The Express Tribune, April 25, 2015, as
accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/875798/pml-n-takes-lead-in-cantonment-board-elections-unofficial-results 8. The publication can be accessed at: 9. For details, please see Senate to be called the ‘House
of the Federation’, Dawn, May 07, 2015, as accessed on June 08,
2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1180418 10. For exact text of the changes made, please refer
to the Orders of the Day for April 16, 2015, issued by the Senate Secretariat,
which can be accessed at: http://senate.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1429159110_528.htm 11. The Public Petition Portal may be accessed at: http://www.asianparliament.org.pk/Petitions/index.php 12. Picture courtesy daily Dawn 13. For details, please see Lahore High Court releases
detailed judgment of Signal Free Corridor, Pakistan Today, May 21, 2015,
as accessed on June 08, 2015 at: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/05/21/city/lahore/lhc-releases-detailed-judgement-of-signal-free-corridor 14. Picture courtesy the daily Dawn 15. For details, please see PTI, PAT protests: Will there
be a people’s Parliament? Dawn, August 19, 2014, as accessed on
May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1126316 16. For details, please see Rigging in polls: Ex-ECP
officials hand ‘evidence’ to Imran, the Express Tribune, August
10, 2014, as accessed on June 04, 2015 at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/746696/rigging-in-polls-ex-ecp-official-hands-evidence-to-imran 17. For details, please see PTI, PML-N sign agreement
to form poll inquiry commission, Dawn, April 02, 2015, as accessed on
June 03, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1173262 18. Picture courtesy of the daily Dawn 19. Perhaps the most significant accusation in this regard
was when Mr. Javed Hashmi left the PTI at the height of the protests,
citing that the protestors were following a ‘scripted plan’,
hinting at a covert form of a Military takeover. For details, please see
Collusion claim: Hashmi sees current tussle as a scripted affair, the
Express Tribune, September 02, 2014, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/756812/collusion-claim-hashmi-sees-current-tussle-as-a-scripted-affair 20. For details, please see the Press Release issued
by the ISPR on August 19, 2014, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: https://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=2634 21. The publication can be accessed at: https://www.pildat.org/publications/publication/CMR/MonitorOnCivil-MilitaryRelationsinPakistan_Sep012014_Sep302014.pdf 22. For details, please see SC dismisses all petitions
seeking PM Nawaz’s disqualification, Dawn, December 09, 2014, as
accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1149778 23. The Press Release can be accessed at: https://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=2634 24. Picture courtesy Pakistan Today 25. For details, please see 26 cases pending with Election
Tribunals, Dawn, June 21, 2015, as accessed on June 24, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1189461 26. For details, please see Election tribunals to get
another extension for pending cases, Dunya News, May 07, 2015, as accessed
on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.breakingnewspak.com/ecp-extends-election-tribunals-tenure-till-june-30 27. For details, please see Election Tribunals disposed
off 198 petitions in 120 days, Associated Press of Pakistan, February
27, 2015, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=268681&Itemid=2 28. For details, please see Analysis: Justice delayed
for PTI, Dawn, May 05, 2015, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1180016 29. For details, please see Election Tribunals disposed
off 198 petitions in 120 days, Associated Press of Pakistan, February
27, 2015, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=268681&Itemid=2 30. Picture courtesy the Daily Times 31. This friction revolved around: 32. For example, during November 2014, the COAS exclusively
meeting with the Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry, along with his regular
and exclusive interactions with the Afghan President, Dr. Ashraf Ghani.
Crucially, neither the Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security
and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, nor the Federal Minister for Defence,
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, MNA, were present during these visits or interactions.
33. Picture courtesy Pakistan Today 34. For details, please see PILDAT Monitor on Civil-Military
Relations in Pakistan, April 2015, which can be accessed at: https://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/CMR/MonitorOnCivil-MilitaryRelationsinPakistan_Apr012015_Apr302015.pdf 35. Picture courtesy Pakistan Today 36. For details, please see Election fraud: The curious
case of the magnetized ink, the Express Tribune, October 10, 2013, as
accessed on June 03, 2015 at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/616058/election-fraud-the-curious-case-of-magnetic-ink 37. For details, please see Imran threatens street protests
against ‘vote rigging’, Dawn, December 11, 2013, as accessed
on June 03, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1061776 38. Picture courtesy The Independent (United Kingdom) 39. For details, please see the heading Formation of
Military Courts: 21st Constitutional Amendment and its Aftermath, on pg.
02 of PILDAT’s Monitor on Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan,
for the month of January 2015, which can be accessed at: https://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/CMR/MonitorOnCivil-MilitaryRelationsinPakistan_Jan012015_Jan312015.pdf 40. The publication can be accessed at: https://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/CMR/MonitorOnCivil-MilitaryRelationsinPakistan_Apr012015_Apr302015.pdf 41. Picture courtesy Pakistan Today 42. For details, please see Four FATA Senators elected,
Dawn, March 21, 2015, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1170996/four-fata-senators-elected 43. For details, please see Two Ordinances promulgated,
March 05, 2015, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1167490/two-ordinances-promulgated 44. For details, please see Senate questions, Dawn, March
15, 2015, as accessed on May 10, 2015 at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1169601 45. Picture courtesy Pakistan Today
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan
Awami Tehreek (PAT) protests against the incumbent Government of the Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)15 amounted to a major challenge and a
milestone in the democratic journey trough 2014-15. Although the protests by
the PAT revolved around a much larger objective of bringing about a revolution
in the country, both it and the PTI converged on the demand for resignation
of the Prime Minister against the allegations of what both parties termed as
massive and systematic rigging in General Election 2013.16”
Formation
of the Military Courts: Undermining the Civilian Judicial System
Picture showing the Army Public School, Peshawar in the
aftermath of the attack by the militants on December 16, 2014; The development
catalyzed the formation of the Military Courts, with both the Military and
certain sections of the civilian political leadership lending support to it38
Considered to be the creation of a parallel
system of justice, the establishment of Military Courts signified a negative
development not only for Pakistan’s civilian judicial system, but also
its nascent democracy. Although their legality is sub-judice, PILDAT
believes their formation blurs the line between the Judiciary and the Executive,
distorting the trichotomy of powers enshrined in Constitution. It also signifies
the limited level of trust the Government reposes in the civilian judicial
system, even if only vis-à-vis terror-related cases. If this is indeed
the case, it means that provision of accessible justice, a cornerstone of
a functioning democracy, remains largely problematic in Pakistan.
Senate
Elections: An Indictment of Pakistan’s Political Parties?
An All Parties Conference (APC) was held on March 10, 2015,
during which the decisions for the appointment of the Senate leadership were
made41
With the election of four Senators from FATA
on March 20, 2015,42 Pakistan wrapped up its Senate elections for 2015. Ill-timed
and ill-advised politicking made the process somewhat controversial for many
observers. What was supposed to be a regular ritual for the country’s
democracy, instead exhibited insecurity of the political parties vis-à-vis
their political capital, weak internal democracy and nation-wide organization.
Sidelining
the Parliament: Increasing Trend of the All Parties Conferences (APCs)
Picture showing an All Parties Conference held on National
Security, chaired by the Prime Minister; the COAS, Gen. Raheel Sharif, is
also in attendance along with leaders of various political parties on December
24, 201445
All Parties Conferences to evolve consensus on issues
of national interest became a recurrent feature for the current Government’s
second year in power. From June 01, 2014-May 31, 2015, the following APCs
were held:
Inordinate
Delay in Appointment of a full-time Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
Picture showing the Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk administering
oath to the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd.) Sardar Raza Khan47
On December 04, 2014, after an inordinate delay
of 16 months, with members of the Supreme Court filling in, the country finally
saw the appointment of Justice (Retd.) Sardar Raza Khan as the new Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC). The previous full-time CEC, Justice (Retd.) Fakhruddin
G. Ebrahim had resigned on July 31, 2013.
For details, please see a public statement issued by PILDAT in this regard,
which can be accessed at: https://www.pildat.org/eventsdel.asp?detid=748
