Defaulters: LHC disappointed by lack of compliance

ECP representative says that the required record has not been provided to it by the concerned authorities.

LAHORE:

A Lahore high Court full bench on Wednesday expressed dismay over non compliance of its orders and directed heads of Excise and Taxation Department, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Limited, Water and Sanitation Agency, and other utility departments to provide the election commission record of defaulting candidates in electronic form within 24 hours or else appear in person before the court on Friday.

An ECP representative told the bench that the required record had not been provided to it by the concerned authorities.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that bank and tax defaulters could not contest the election until they had cleared their dues at least one-year (bank loans) and six-month (utility bills) ahead of polls.The hearing was adjourned till Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2013.