Electoral reforms: SC summons report on voter verification

Bench says will not allow the passing of legislation to be used as an excuse for delaying elections.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday summoned a report till February 13 on the electoral reforms and verification of voter lists in Karachi with the assistance of army.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was hearing the Workers Party petition regarding the implementation of the court’s earlier judgment about electoral reforms. During the proceedings, petitioner Bilal Minto’s counsel informed the bench that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had yet to implement the court’s judgment in this regard.

Appearing on notice, Attorney General Irfan Qadir informed the bench that the law ministry had received the People’s Representation Act amendment bill and was currently examining it. He added that the ministry had also received proposals from ECP for a ‘must vote’ legislation.

Upon this, the bench directed Qadir to caution quarters concerned in the government against using the legislations as an excuse for delaying the upcoming elections. The court will not do anything which could provide anyone the opportunity to delay the upcoming elections, it observed.

CJ Chaudhry further asked Qadir to not leave the matter entirely in the law ministry’s hands and contact other high-ups for completing the legislation in the most expeditious way possible. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM PPI)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.