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Monday, April 08, 2013
ROs have key role in conduct of free, fair elections: CJP* Justice Iftikhar tells judicial officers to not be influenced by any political party or politician
SUKKUR: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the role of district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) was of prime importance for conducting general elections in a free and fair manner.
The chief justice was addressing the district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers of Sukkur and Larkana divisions on Saturday. He said that the people have the right to choose their representatives, but during scrutiny it must be ensured that the candidate is the right one, as desired by the constitution.
“The judicial officers have been chosen for this task of national importance, which will prove a paradigm shift in shaping the destiny of our country,” he said. The CJP observed: “In terms of Article 218 (3) of the constitution, where it is the duty of the Commission to organise and conduct free and fair elections at the same time the voter is also required to have full knowledge about the antecedents, etc of the candidate, in whose favour he contemplates to vote in the forthcoming elections.”
He told the judicial officers that the induction of the judiciary in the election process meant that they would not be influenced by any political party or politician. The CJP said that people had immense expectations from them. He advised the judicial officers to be mindful of the fact that voters had the right to access to information with reference to the credentials of a candidate he was going to vote for. Therefore, he said, it was the need of the hour for all stakeholders to join hands with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for free and fair elections.
Justice Iftikhar said the election commission needs institutional support and strength for performance of its constitutional duty, as such the judicial officers are deployed in the election process in the national interest. He added that in view of the present law and order situation of the country, there is a dire need to join hands with the election commission so that it may be able to give us the representatives which will turn the fate of this nation. “If we did not participate to the best of our abilities then history would never forgive us,” he added.
The CJP said that female voters of our country, especially those living in remote areas, are either usually said to be influenced by their male family members or stopped from exercising their right to vote. This mindset needs to be changed and the social media must encourage this segment of society to participate in the mainstream of decision making, he added. The CJP said that it is obligatory for the Election Commission of Pakistan under Article 218 of the constitution to organise and conduct the elections and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that elections are conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with the law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against. He said the judicial officers are required to stand as a shield against all unjust or unfair means being employed to get favourable election result. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk