Consensus on Bhagwandas as new CEC

ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition seem to have agreed on appointing Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Finance Minister Ishaq Dar contacted the Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah two days back to agree on a name to fill the vacant post. The latter sought time to discuss the name of the new CEC with other opposition parties and on Thursday conveyed to the government that the opposition parties had agreed on the name of Justice (retd) Bhagwandas as the new CEC. However, there is a legal hitch as Justice (retd) Bhagwandas has recently resigned as chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission. Sources said an amendment in the law is to be presented in the National Assembly on Friday to remove the legal hurdle in the appointment of Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas as the Chief Election Commissioner. Supreme Court Judge Justice Nasirul Malik has been serving as acting Chief Election Commissioner following the resignation of Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, who relinquished the post after the general elections last year.