A three-member Supreme Court bench on Tuesday sought the federation and Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) replies within 15 days in a plea seeking election reforms in the country. The bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry had taken up a plea filed by the secretary of Workers Party Pakistan. Abid Hassan Monto, counsel for the secretary, submitted that the current election system was very costly and a common man could not take part in the election process.
He said millions of rupees were spent on election campaigns, therefore, only the rich and feudal lords could contest polls, adding that the system nurtured corruption. He said there was a dire need for election reforms, which could guarantee participation of the common man in the process. The lawyer said restrictions should be imposed on election rallies and processions and on displaying hoardings.
