Polls not to be allowed to be delayed even for a single day: CJP
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has remarked elections will not be allowed to be delayed even for a single day.
He gave these remarks while presiding over a 3-member bench of SC during the course of hearing of electoral reforms case here Thursday.
Munir Paracha appeared on behalf of Election Commission (EC) while Attorney General ( AG) Irfan Qadir represented federation in the court.
EC presented report with reference to electoral reforms and filed nomination form in the court in the mean time.
AG told the court he had contacted law secretary a night before with regard to amendments in nomination form and other legislation and he had told that the matter was lying with senate special committee. He had contacted EC but the latter has not given any reply so far and now EC has printed new nomination form. What can we do next".
Munir Paracha said care taker government will be able to do any thing with respect to new amendments. President will have to promulgate ordinance. EC has been constrained to do what it is doing.
The court remarked the EC wields a lot of powers under law and constitution and it can do a lot on its own if it wills. AG said a wrong step might devastate the whole election.
CJP remarked " if some one has any courage to prevent election. We will not allow election is delayed even for a single day. It is essential that honest and fair people should go to the parliament through election. Several members of previous assembly were facing charges of drug trafficking. There is need that democratic system is fortified in this coun- try. 180 million people want electoral reforms. National interest should be dear to the president than the interest of his party. EC can reform itself even if no court decision is there. People should know that candidate of their respective constituency was not involved in any heinous crime. The real representative is upon whom the voters of constituency express trust. How can a person who bags only 8 percent votes become public representative. We want endeavors are made that no criminal goes to parliament."