Electoral Reforms: Candidates not allowed to transport voters in their cars, says SC
According to the court's verdict, restrictions are to be placed on candidates' cars which are used to transport voters to polling stations and political rallies are to be monitored.
The petitioner, Workers Party Pakistan (WPP) President Advocate Abid Hasan Minto told the court that contesting in the elections was now very difficult for the common man as he has to contest against a candidate who has ample amounts of money to spend on a campaign.
He said that the watchdog was not doing its duty in making sure that campaigning was being done lawfully, which gave the richer candidates a natural advantage over their less privileged counterparts.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that this was a matter for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) since laws pertaining to the issue already existed.
Abid replied saying that the Supreme Court needed to reiterate the fact that all campaigning needs to be carried out in accordance with the law.
Following this, the court issued a detailed verdict.
The Supreme Court stated that political parties will not be allowed to set up their tents or camps near polling stations.
The verdict further stated that taking part in elections is the basic right of all citizens and that the state should allow common citizens to vote.
The Supreme Court further said that it was the responsibility of the Election Commission to implement the laws of the elections.
COMMENTS (18)
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yhat is why parliaments make laws not judges judges should stop playing politics
This is one of the biggest gimmicks even from the PCO SC standards. Let us say I am a worker of party A and I intentionally offer free ride to voters of party B, would that help me disqualify my opponent? I hire four drivers with opponent's flags and he is disqualified! In addition the laws are made to make voting easy and as high % as possible to make it easy, hence a holiday on election day. This is not going to stop the big money but make it difficult for the rural heartland voters to use their voting right. Women are not free to move about long distances and so are the old and sick. How could depriving the most deprived be fair and good for democracy and country? The urban elites would benefit from this policy a great deal. No wonder they talk about proportional representation, as people in KPK and Baluchistan do not vote in high %. With this in place the votes cast in Karachi and Lahore would be more than the province of Baluchistan and perhaps KPK!
Mr chief justice must remember he is not source of law,it is the parliament that makes laws he seems to be falling victim to same mentality as zia and Musharaf that makes him think that he is the ultimate power
This is such good news. All we need now is proper implementation. I think the army should be involved and make sure no one abuses the law.
How does providing transport and setting up tents for "FACILITATION" only mean the person standing alone in the polling booth will vote for differently, than what it he/she has decided already?
Please don't let the world laugh at us because of these type of decisions.
If candidates are not allowed to provide transport to voters, then the voter turnout will be very low. voters who do not own a vehicle will face difficulties in getting to the polling stations. This is going to be more so in rural areas where polling stations may be many miles away from villages and public transport is non-existent.
These are issues. fake voters are brought to poling stations and the boxes are filled, the cadidates are declared winners and then ruling and looting AWAM. Transportation and tents camping near polling stations must be stopped. Reforms to the such extent should be brought to check poling of bogus votes.
Good idea. However, implementation is the key since as per the implementation infrastructure in Pakistan, only the weaker party is subject to such laws.
What about old, disable and sick voters?
This is wrong judgement and will damage political process,because it is impossible in rural areas to bring people to polling stations without political parties involvement. Remove this and turnover on election will be very low.
Can they be transported in trucks?
Excellent announcement. This will make it harder for this corrupt government (PPP & PMLN) to force people to vote for them. All that's left is implementation. Hopefully SC will send some trustworthy people to implement this because police can not be trusted. Imran Khan is the answer to Pakstan's problems. Vote for him to save the country from becoming a failed state
These are non issues, SCP always plays to the gallery just fooling the people with populist observations. The electoral reform should begin with review and scrutiny of Campaign Financing, that needs to be declared. The use of cars/vehicles is a non issue rather retrogressive in a polity where voters are reluctant to go to the polls due to a number of reasons.
Even PTI is not gonna follow this.
@Awais Ch: Do you think any party will act on it?. It will never happen as all parties know in villages voters will not go to vote unless they will be provided transport. Also who cares for SC in Pakistan.
let us see who implements these - always looks good on papers - law there but sadly non implemented.....
"political parties will not be allowed to set up their tents or camps near polling stations". Nice step towards free and fair elections.
Zindabaad ....