Hearing a petition seeking reduction and regulation of election expenses incurred by political parties during electioneering, the Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not exercise its constitutional powers to monitor the expenditure of election campaigns.
This was observed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while heading a three-member bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, which was hearing a petition filed by a noted lawyer Abid Hasan Minto on behalf of the Workers Party.
Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq assured the court of submitting the government’s point of view over the matter during the course of the day (Tuesday). “We wish that there should be a culture of transparent elections in the country, in which there should be no projection of money,” the chief justice said. Resuming his arguments, Abid Hasan Minto argued that heavy expenditures on elections were a main hurdle in flourishing of real democracy in the country. He said culture of investment in politics should be ended. Justice Parvez noted that the code of conduct for the judges had improved by bringing amendment into it. He said “our parliamentarians can reform the system of election expenditures”. Meanwhile, the court directed Minto to conclude his arguments by Wednesday (today). The court also directed Hamid Khan, a party in the case, to advance his arguments on Thursday. Khalid Ranjha, counsel for PML-Q, contended that there was no need of any legislation to curtail the election expenditures. He said if the ECP ensured implementation on the existing laws on elections, the problem will be solved automatically.
Earlier on February 21, the Supreme Court had put on notice 26 political parties, including the PPP and the PML-N, to come up with replies on the petition against heavy expenditures on elections. According to the ECP, only 26 political parties are currently functioning in the country. The petition has also pleaded for barring political parties from holding huge rallies and putting up banners. Instead, the petition suggested, parties should conduct door-to-door campaigning and be given equal slot on the Pakistan Television for presentation of their manifesto.
SC hints at daily hearing of Reko Diq case from May 8
While hearing identical petitions against federal government’s leasing of gold and copper mines, including the world’s biggest goldmine of Reko Diq in Balochistan which is worth over $260 billion, to foreign companies in violation of laid down rules, the Supreme Court on Tuesday hinted to start day-to-day hearing of the case from May 8. Ahmer Bilal Soofi, counsel for the Balochistan government, informed a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez that senior lawyer Shahid Hamid had been appointed as arbitrator to represent their case at the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. Meanwhile, the court adjourned further hearing until May 8. Earlier on March 5, the court was informed that the Balochistan government had rejected the appeal of Tethyan Copper Company Pakistan (TCCP) Limited for acquiring a mining licence.
