Senate election: BHC rebukes govt over release of funds to MPA
The Balochistan High Court (BHC) expressed serious concerns over the issuance of development funds to a provincial lawmaker ahead of the recent senate elections, dubbing it an ‘inappropriate act’.
A divisional bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, passed these remarks while hearing two constitutional petitions filed by National Party (NP) Secretary General Tahir Bizenjo and Balochistan Assembly Speaker Aslam Bhootani.
Bizenjo, in his petition, alleged rigging and horse-trading in the senate election in Balochistan, while Bhootani claimed that MPA Pir Abdul Qadir Gilani had voted for a PPP candidate on a guarantee that he would receive Rs650 million for ‘MPA Schemes’. Bhootani requested the court to disqualify Gilani as “he sold his vote”.
According to the petitioner, Gilani had himself said at a news conference that he had not received development funds for the past four years and that he would vote for PPP candidates in the Senate election as the party had assured him of release of funds.
Justice Isa said Gilani should have approached the court if his funds were withheld. Release of funds ahead of senate election is inappropriate, he added. He also criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), saying that it is their responsibility to keep a close eye on what is happening during elections. The ECP should have taken notice of this issue before people approached the court, he said.
The planning and development department has sought more time from the court to file a reply. The bench, while granting the time, adjourned the hearing till the last week of March.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2012.
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