ECP secretary summoned over Senate elections

LAHORE
THE Lahore High Court Tuesday strongly objected to the improper preparations of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for upcoming Senate election and sought personal appearance of ECP secretary.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing a petition against a faulty process for Senate election.
The court showed deep concern over the lack of mechanism to conduct scrutiny of the candidates in terms of tax default and provisions of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
The judge observed that the Senate elections were around the corner and the ECP was yet to be roused from deep slumber. The judge went on to say that holding election without devising any mechanism to gauge the credentials of the candidates would be a joke with the nation.
Justice Shah directed the ECP Secretary to personally appear before the court today (Wednesday) and explain his position in the case.
Advocate Shahid Pervez Jami filed the petition pointing out various flaws in the Senate election process. The petitioner stated that Senate election was being held on outdated nomination papers. They said many columns mentioned in the nomination papers had become obsolete. He said the scrutiny of the candidates could not be held properly on the basis of defective nomination papers.
The lawyers asked the court to direct the ECP to perform its functions under the Constitution to conduct the Senate election and strictly observe provisions of Article 62 and 63 (qualification and disqualification) during scrutiny of the candidates.
They asked the court to order the commission to public instructions whether issued to returning officers for determination of qualification/disqualification criteria to debar bogus degree holders, loan defaulters, non-filers of income tax returns, dual nationality holders and that of determination of good character as narrated in Article 62(1)(d) of the Constitution.