Election Commission official told LHC that new column will be dropped, other officials yet to confirm decision.
ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:
The controversy over the Election Commission of Pakistan’s new proposed column ‘none of the above’, giving an option to the voters to reject all the candidates in the elections, is yet to be resolved.
The Lahore High Court on Friday disposed of a petition challenging this move, when a representative of the commission informed the court that this option has been dropped, at least for the time being.
On Wednesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had decided to include a ‘none of the above’ column in the ballot papers for the upcoming elections, giving voters, for the first time, a choice to reject all candidates contesting in their respective constituencies.
However, the ECP seems to be tight-lipped about the matter now.
“This [removing the new column] is not in my knowledge,” Secretary ECP Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan told The Express Tribune.
Similarly, other senior officials of the commission neither confirmed nor denied the development.
During Friday’s proceedings at the LHC, an Election Commission representative informed the court that the ECP has decided against introducing the ‘none of the above’ column in the new ballot papers.
The official claimed that the ECP has now decided to follow the format of the old ballot papers. Consequently, the LHC judge disposed of the case on his assurance.
On Thursday, a petition was also filed in the LHC, challenging the ECP’s move to modify ballot papers. The petitioner, Rana Saeed, termed the addition in ballot papers unconstitutional and argued that a re-election will be needed if all candidates are rejected.
Electronic media reports suggest that ECP has deferred this proposal due to some legal hitches. According to the ECP proposal, the commission will send a summary to the caretaker prime minister for the inclusion of this new column and the PM will forward the same proposal to the president for issuance of ordinance in this regard.
The ECP’s innovation was widely criticised by legal experts and different political parties, which said that it went against democratic practices.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713521455-0/Untitled-design-(9)1713521455-0-270x192.webp)
"Vote for none" blank option must be included in ballot papers because thus politicians and ECP officials can know it very well how many people don't want to vote the corrupt politicians and corrupt political system of Pakistan and most especially importantly thus politicians can judge and observe their popularity,credibility,trustworthiness,respect and honor in the nation's sights and hearts instead of seeing their popularity,trustworthiness,credibility,respect and honor thru the international surveys' organizations......
one vote per person , if in constituency out of 100% votes only 33% votes cast and wining candidate claim about 20%votes and became a representative of all people ..what is this