LHC asks govt: Can ECP issue orders to returning officers after elections?

Order issued on petition challenging directions to let Imran Khan inspect the election record.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday asked the federal government to assist the court in ascertaining whether returning officers are bound to obey the orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the elections.

LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued this order on a petition of Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq challenging the order of the election commission to the returning officer to let his opponent, Imran Khan, inspect the election record.



Justice Bandial, during the hearing, remarked that judicial officers were not answerable to the election commission. He said the judiciary cooperated with the election commission in holding the elections on its request but allegations of rigging were being faced by the judiciary. Appearing on behalf of Imran Khan, Advocate Ahmed Awais submitted that according to the People Representation Act, election commission can issue orders to the returning officer even after the election.

Counsel for Ayaz Sadiq submitted that the returning officers were not answerable to the election commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2014.