News
Thursday, November 29, 2012SC wants army to verify voter lists in Karachi
* Court says this exercise by army will also eliminate criminal elements
* MQM opposes hiring of army services for door-to-door verification of voters
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: In view of concerns by major political parties regarding the illegal shift of 2.7 millions voters from Karachi to other areas of the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested the Election Commission of Pakistan to hire services of the Pakistan Army for door-to-door verification of voters in Karachi.
The court observed this exercise regarding the verification of voters by the army would also eliminate criminal elements in the city and general elections could be held in a peaceful manner.
On the other hand, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement opposed the hiring of Pakistan Army’s services about the door-to-door verification of voters in Karachi. Later, a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has reserved its judgement regarding non-verification of 2.7 voters in Karachi and shifting them from the city to other towns/cities of Pakistan.
“We would write in our judgement clearly that Election Commission of Pakistan in the garb of undertaking exercise to verify voters in Karachi should not delay the general elections in the country,” the court observed further.
During the proceeding, the chief justice said if the exercise of door-to-door verification is carried out in Karachi, the administration would be able to control the worsening law and order in the city. This would also help the provincial government to identify criminals who enter Karachi. Farogh Naseem, counsel for the MQM during the hearing, persistently said neither shifting of votes from Karachi to other places was a big issue nor can the court give its judgement on it. He said, “Unless there is actionable material, the court can’t pass an order.”
Justice Azmat asked the counsel that more and more people were reluctant, which was creating doubts as to why the MQM was resisting it. Naseem sought 15 minutes to get instructions from his party leadership, after which he informed the court one person can’t take a decision and requested the bench to adjourn the case until Monday.
The chief justice asked him, “Your party is a grassroots party and why are you opposing the door-to-door verification?” He said there should be maximum turnout of voters in the general elections and that could only happen if the votes are properly registered.
However, Munir Paracha appearing on behalf of the ECP contended that contrary to the claims of the PTI, JI and PML, only 68,000 votes could not be verified in the door-to-door campaign. He said some people, including Rana Shamim advocate, filled the forms requesting the ECP to shift their votes to the place of their permanent residences. However, Shamim denied the ECP’s claim.
Dispelling the ECP’s stance that the revision of electoral rolls needed to be completed after a year and they would do it next year, the CJP said the revision under Article 219 meant it should be completed during the year.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk