SJC throws out PTI’s reference against ECP members

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Monday rejected a reference filed by the PTI against members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for what it alleged were irregularities in the 2013 general elections.
Headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, the council dismissed the reference in the initial hearing, ruling that no solid evidence was provided in support of the allegations.
The council further ruled that the evidence on which the reference was filed was not maintainable and hence the complaint couldn’t be converted into a reference for regular hearing and dismissed it.
Gohar Nawaz Sindhu of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Lawyers Wing had filed the reference under Article 209 of the Constitution. He had leveled allegations of irregularities and partiality against the four members of the ECP.
The reference said the ECP members committed rigging in favour of the ruling PML-N before and during the general elections 2013. It further said the legal lapses made the entire 2013 elections non-transparent and unlawful.
Sindhu contended that these lapses reflected on the incompetence of the Election Commission and its bureaucracy.The SJC rejected the reference with the ruling that no solid evidence was provided in support of the allegations.