ECP delists three cases

ISLAMABAD: In an usual move, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday delisted three cases, previously fixed for hearing on December 12, owing to non-availability of the commission bench.

A senior official at the Election Commission Secretariat said that the bench became non-available, owing to the passing away of a close relative of Election Commission Member (ECM) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Justice (R) Irshad Qaiser. After she has gone on leave, ECP consists of one member i.e. Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi, who is acting chief election commissioner till the new head assumes duty. After the completion of the term of the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Sardar Muhammad Raza on December 5, the five-member bench was reduced to two members i.e. Justice (R) Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi and Irshad Qaiser.

Other two members from Sindh and Balochistan had completed their respective terms early this year and the vacant seats hitherto could not be filled. The government and the opposition are sharply divided on naming next chief election commissioner and two commission members.

As per the Elections Act, 2017, sub-section 3 of Section 06, the chief election commissioner can constitute a bench of two members. And, if they unanimously decide an issue, it will be deemed as the entire commission’s decision.