ECP misled, action will be taken: SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday observed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had misled it and it would take action thereon. The apex court also rejected the request of the government for holding the local government elections for the cantonment board areas on May 2 instead of April 25, 2015.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Jawad S Khawaja, heard the case. It directed the government to ensure holding of local government election in the cantonment board areas on April 25, 2015.
The court also directed the secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit by March 10 a fresh schedule for conducting the local government elections in Sindh, the Punjab and Islamabad respectively.
It is pertinent to mention here that the ECP the other day, while submitting the revised schedule on local government elections in KP, Sindh, the Punjab and cantonment boards, had informed the court that election in the cantonment board areas of the country would be held on April 25, 2015.
The court was further informed that 3-5 lakh voters will also be included in the revised electoral rolls, which the court had accepted and had directed the EC to do the needful.
On Friday, Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, however, requested the court for allowing holding of elections in the cantonment board areas on May 2, 2015 instead of April 25, 2015. He contended that there were 43 cantonment boards in the country wherein 3-5 lakh voters will be incorporated into the revised electoral rolls.
The court turned down the request and ordered to ensure holding of elections in the cantonment board areas on April 25, 2015. The court directed to ensure holding of local government elections in the KP on May 30, 2015 and in the cantonment board areas on April 25, 2015.
During the hearing, ECP Secretary Sher Afgan told the court that the commission could ensure holding of the local government elections in Sindh and the Punjab on September 20, 2015 if two new printing machines were provided to the Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP).
Justice Jawad S Khawaja, however, said that the court was not responsible for this, adding that it was the responsibility of the ECP to arrange the facility and fulfill its constitutional obligation by ensuring the local government elections.
“Neither we have any personal interest in the local government polls nor the court is against the Election Commission, but we want the commission to obey the commands of the Constitution,” Justice Jawad S Khawaja remarked.
The court rejected the delay in holding of local government elections in Sindh and the Punjab and directed the ECP to come up on March 10 with aelection in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the ECP secretary submitted that they have not yet started work but can give on March 10 schedule for conducting delimitation in Islamabad.
The court, however, observed as to why the ECP has not yet started work on delimitation in the federal capital despite the fact that the bill for legislation has already been approved by the federal cabinet.
Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt informed the court that the bill for legislation regarding holding of elections in Islamabad will be tabled during the forthcoming session of National Assembly.
”We had already directed you to conduct delimitation in Islamabad,” Justice Khawaja said and directed the ECP secretary to submit on March 10 complete schedule for holding election in Islamabad.
“Tell us also as to whether you enforce Article 219 of the constitution or not”, Justice Jawad further remarked. The court expressed dissatisfaction over the schedule, given for Sindh and Punjab and asked Attorney General as to why inordinate delay is being made for holding local government elections. He further said that the court was not satisfied of the schedule, given for Sindh and Punjab.
Meanwhile, the court directed Secretary Election Commission to submit on March 10, schedule for holding local government elections in Sindh, Punjab and Islamabad and adjourned the hearing.Ends.