Supreme Court (SC) said the responsibility to hold back the vote rigging and stanch the electoral expenses rests with Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A three-member bench of the apex court, delivering the verdict on a petition moved by Workers Party regarding election expenses, said it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to keep an eye on the expenditures incurred on an electioneering campaign, a private TV channel reported.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry, advised the voters’ chits should be dispatched along with utility bills.
The apex court said immediate steps should be taken up to make vote casting necessary for everyone and run-off elections should be arranged in constituencies with low turnover.
The bench furthermore added a candidate who bags more votes only from the pool of total number of votes cast in a constituency, cannot be held the representative of the majority.
The verdict impresses upon the government to make it binding on every candidate to use a single bank account to spend on his election drive.
The verdict also urged on enhancing the number of polling stations and that it should be ensured that no polling station should be at a distance more than two kilometers away from the locality of the voters.
The court order says that it is fundamental right of every citizen and every political party to partake in elections in their bid to become a part of government under Article 17.
The court ruling directed the voters should not be transported to the polling stations in vehicles sponsored by the candidate.
No camps or tents should be put in place in proximity to the polling stations.
ECP responsible to keep election expenses in limit: SC
