Civilian representation: SC directs elections in Cantonment Boards

Deputy attorney general says prime minister has approved summary over pending issue.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of a constitutional petition on holding elections for civilian representatives of cantonment boards.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Dil Muhammad Alizai told the apex court that a summary had been approved by the prime minister on the pending issue.

“Election to the boards will be held after passage of the extension period in May this year,” Alizai said.

The SC disposing of the petition directed the federal government not to delay the cantonment board elections after May 5.

The court also asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make necessary arrangements in this regard.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed heard the plea moved by Raja Rabnawaz.

There have been no elections for civilian representatives on CBs since 1999. The chief justice questioned why elections hadn’t been held in the CB areas, adding there should be solid reasons.

This is a constitutional obligation, which the defence ministry has not fulfilled, he said.

“Civilians should be governed by their own [civilian] representatives,” Justice Azmat Saeed said at the hearing.

He stated that the British had established the boards in 1924 and it was mentioned in the Act that there would be civilian representatives, but the practice has stopped since 1999.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2013.