News
Thursday, July 25, 2013
SC announces schedule for presidential election* Says election will be held on July 30 instead of August 6, as desired by PML-N
* Filing of nomination papers on July 24; scrutiny on 26th and withdrawal on 27th
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dictated the revised presidential election schedule to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and directed it to hold the election on July 30 instead of August 6.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday took up the petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chairman Senator Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq one day ago. The bench admitted the PML-N leader’s petition for regular hearing on the same day and issued notices to the respondents, including the ECP, the chief election commissioner and the federation of Pakistan through Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs secretary in this regard.
The court has said in its order, “The holding of election of the Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is one of the most important constitutional activity, which has to be undertaken by the ECP, therefore, we are of the opinion that at the same time, it is the duty of the ECP to facilitate all the voters and electors, enabling them to exercise their right of franchise for the election of the Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Therefore, keeping in view the reasons/grounds put forward and also to ensure that the ECP may discharge its functions. We accordingly direct the ECP to change its schedule.”
Dictating the full revised presidential election schedule to the ECP, the court also called for filling of nomination papers with the presiding officers in Islamabad and with each of the presiding officers in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta on July 24; scrutiny of nomination papers by the returning officer in Islamabad on July 26, withdrawal of candidature before the returning officer in Islamabad on July 27. Publication of the list of validly nominated candidates on July 27, polling day and polling time on July 30 from 10am to 3pm. The places of the election are the Parliament House Islamabad, provincial assembly buildings in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
Earlier, in response to the notice, Attorney General of Pakistan Muneer A Malik along with the ECP additional secretary appeared before the bench. The court also went through the schedule announced by the ECP for the presidential election. ECP Additional Secretary Sher Afgan stated that the ECP has to complete the procedural formalities after publication of the list of the validly nominated candidates, therefore, the polling day and time has been fixed as August 6. But when the court told him the reasons on account of which the request had been made for ante-dating the polling, as incorporated in the petition, he sought time to seek instructions from the ECP.
Later on, senior ECP officer submitted a written statement before the bench, which read, “The election commission has considered the matter regarding change of presidential election schedule. The commission feels that it shall require three clear days between withdrawal-day and poll-day to complete all necessary arrangements for conduct of poll. Whatever order is passed by this Hon’ble Court keeping this requirement in view will be complied with in letter and spirit.”
The AGP submitted that there was no constitutional hurdle if presidential election is held prior to the scheduled date of August 6. Disposing of the petition, the bench directed the ECP to revise the presidential election’s schedule, as it had been directed. It must be noted that the ECP had rejected the PML-N’s plea for holding presidential election six days ahead of schedule. Later on, the senior PML-N leader approached the Supreme Court in this regard, arguing that the last 10 days of Ramazan are normally the days of extensive spiritual and religious activity/worship and quite a number of the legislators may either be in Aitekaf or proceed for Umrah to Saudi Arabia during this period. Haq expressed the apprehension that if the election is held on August 6, a number of parliamentarians/voters would not be able to participate in it.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk