News
Friday, April 13, 2012
SC seeks schedule of local bodies polls* court says non-holding of elections will violate constitution
* Attorney general says matter transferred to provinces
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of the delay in holding of local bodies elections in the country, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the provinces to give schedules for the elections on April 30.
The court directed all the chief secretaries to consult their respective governments on holding of local bodies elections immediately and inform the bench about the schedule of the elections on the next date of hearing. The chief justice said that all the provinces should give election schedule on the same day.
The court observed that there should be no excuse in that regard because non-holding of local bodies elections would be a violation of the constitution, adding that most of the basic problems were linked with the delay in that matter.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, took up the suo motu case regarding local bodies elections while hearing a case related to target killings in Balochistan.
During the hearing, in compliance of the April 6 order of the court, all provincial chief secretaries and Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq appeared before the bench. The attorney general informed the court that in view of the 18th Amendment, the matter of holding of local bodies elections was transferred to the provinces. The chief justice asked the attorney general when the provinces were holding the elections. The attorney general replied that all the provinces believed that local bodies elections should be held, but they were indecisive about the schedule because the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had not finalised voter lists. The court observed that voter lists had already been revived as the ECP had recently conducted by-elections using fresh lists.
The court was informed that the Balochistan government had already placed on record a report about local bodies elections. Balochistan Advocate General Amanullah Kunrani said the Balochistan government was considering holding local bodies election in May. The court was apprised the Punjab government was considering to conduct the elections in August. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary apprised the bench that the provincial cabinet had approved a draft regarding the elections, which had been moved before the provincial assembly. He said that due to certain amendments, further time would be required for finalisation of the draft.
To a query of the court, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir Khan said the provincial assembly had passed a bill for enforcement of a local bodies system, but they had not yet decided to hold elections.
The court directed the provincial chief secretaries to consult their governments regarding arrangements for the elections and tell the bench about a schedule in view of the 18th Amendment.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk