News
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Judiciary ready to supervise polls in ‘national interest’* NJPMC decides to provide services of adequate number of judicial officers to ECP for their appointment as district returning officers
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Agreeing to relax the restriction in supreme national interest on the involvement of the judiciary in the election process only once during the forthcoming general election, the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) has decided to provide services of adequate number of judicial officers to the Election Commission of Pakistan for their appointment as district returning officer and returning officer.
According to details, a special meeting of the NJPMC was held on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to consider the ECP’s request regarding appointment of judicial officers as DROs and ROs in light of the commission’s comments on the points raised by the committee in its last meeting on November 3.
In Saturday’s meeting, the committee observed since the administration of justice is the prime responsibility of the judiciary; therefore, judicial officers appointed as DROs and ROs should perform routine judicial work first and perform election duties in extra hours so litigants do not suffer.
It also asked the ECP to facilitate the polling staff and provide all possible logistic and financial support to the DROs and ROs to meet immediate expenditures and contingencies during the election process.
It also observed that the presiding officers and polling staff have a key role in the election process, therefore, it was recommended their deployment be made carefully to eliminate the possibility of their involvement in any corruption.
In his introductory remarks, the CJP stated no one could deny the fact that holding of free and fair election is pre-requisite for sustainability of democracy, which ensures prosperity through good governance. The sentiments of political parties, civil society and media to enhance the credibility of election process by involving the judiciary is a good omen, he added.
He further stated unfortunately in the past, involvement of the judiciary in election process had adversely affected judicial work, therefore, at the time of framing the National Judicial Policy it was considered appropriate to keep the judiciary away from the elections process and focus on administration of justice.
He further stated the meeting had been convened to consider the ECP’s request and decide with consensus as to what extent and in which form the judiciary could be involved in the election process so its impartiality and independence was not be questioned.
Earlier, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed briefed the committee about the steps taken to conduct upcoming general elections transparently. He shared the commission’s efforts to update and rectify electoral rolls in light of directions issued by the SC.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk