The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the restoration of the voters’ lists finalised in 2007 for Karachi. The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry gave the interim order hearing a constitutional petition filed by former Pakistan People’s Party chairwoman Benazir Bhutto, which was clubbed with those of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Jamaat-e-Islami. The apex court directed the Election Commission to contact the aggrieved voters to register their votes in the locality of their choice instead of their native or current residential address. The petitioners, in their petition, had contended that the EC had transferred around three million voters of Karachi to different areas, questioning the authority under which the EC took the decision.
The court observed that so far the Election Commission could address grievances of not more than 10 percent of the complainants, what the bench called a dissatisfactory ratio.
The court observed that it was practically impossible for the voters to cast their votes in the new constituency, located far from their current residential address.
The chief justice exemplified his own vote that had been transferred to Quetta. He was endorsed by the petitioner’s counsel, whose vote had also been transferred to his native area whereas he was currently residing in Karachi.
However, the court clarified that the restoration of 2007 voters’ list was meant only for Karachi, and if the scope was widened to other areas of Sindh, it might delay elections that would serve no one’s interest.
Later, the court adjourned the proceedings until Thursday, directing the Election Commission secretary to appear in person.