The Supreme Court on Friday announced verdict in the election expenditure case. A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry gave the directions while announcing its verdict in the case.
The SC in its ruling said besides keeping an eye on the public meetings of the candidates‚ the commission should stop them from picking voters from their houses on the balloting day. The SC said the EC had the right to monitor the campaign and expenditures of any candidate during the election. The court directed that the election commission should appoint federal government and independent institutions officials on polling stations. The court, in its order, stated that every political party had the right to take part in elections and to try to become a part of eth government under Article 17.
It said it was the responsibility of the EC to make sure that the parties strictly followed the election rules. It said for the sake of democracy, it was pertinent that every candidate should get the chance to take part in elections as every elected representative came to power through democratic process. The SC ordered the commission to manage door to door visit for the verification of the voters’ lists and assistance of army and FC should be sought in this regard. The apex court in its ruling observed that responsibility rests with the Election Commission to stop corruption and strictly implement the election related rules. The bench said it is necessary that everybody should participate in the election process for the strengthening of democracy.
