Chief Election Commissioner

Justice (Retd) Rana Bhagwandas is reported to have declined to become the CEC because the Election Commission, according to him, is not autonomous and independent. Well done, Sir, and I salute you for your courage of conviction. Your such act is still more laudable as you were the only consensual candidate acceptable to all major political parties.

At the same time one thing that bothers me a great deal is, how come some of the honourable justices subject themselves to the judgmental remarks of the politicians of being acceptable to some or not acceptable to others. Does such a ‘non acceptance’ not amount to raising questions on the character and impartiality of a justice?  How dare the politicians do such a horrendous thing? The honourable justices are, therefore, requested that as soon as a justice comes to know of his name being discussed publicly by the politicians he should immediately inform them to stop it and that he  would not be available for the position. The politicians must decide amongst themselves secretly – like the election of the Pope at Vatican – and after having arrived at complete consensus approach the ‘elected’ justice to oblige them by accepting to become the CEC.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)