Pakistan's new CEC takes oath

Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan (retd) Saturday took oath here as Pakistan's new chief election commissioner (CEC).

Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk administered the oath of office to Justice Raza at the Supreme Court, Dawn online reported.

On Thursday, the announcement of Sardar Raza Khan's name as CEC was made after the parliamentary committee held a meeting earlier in the day to finalise the name before Friday - the deadline set by the Supreme Court to fill the key constitutional office which has been lying vacant for over 16 months.

Justice Sardar Raza Khan had retired as a Supreme Court judge in 2011.

The 69-year-old was among the judges of the apex court who had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) after the imposition of emergency by then military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

The appointment comes as the Supreme Court had warned the government it would withdraw Dec 5 its judge, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, who is currently officiating as acting CEC, if the office was not filled by that time.

Earlier, the court had set Oct 28, Nov 13 and Nov 25 as deadlines for the CEC's appointment.