- ANP lambastes ECP for violating code of conduct for elections
- PML-Q says would have been better had government not indulged in controversies
- JI says certain factors made election controversial
Awami National Party (ANP) Information Secretary Senator Zahid on Tuesday demanded he removal of Election Commission of Pakistan officials who failed to perform their duties regarding holding free and fair presidential poll.
Talking exclusively to Pakistan Today, Zahid said his party’s boycott was not against the presidential election, but the system under which hurdles were created to restrict parliamentarians in using their right to vote.
He said the ECP violated the code of conduct for elections earlier and later the Supreme Court interfered by giving a faulty judgment on the initial hearing, without listening to the other parties, adding that the procedure was neither constitutional nor democratic.
“On the other hand, the government did not adopt a flexible approach, which was a big mistake on their part,” he added.
“The PML-N had majority in parliament, what would have happened if they had held the presidential polls by August 6?” Khan questioned, saying the reality was that the government was up to sabotage the process.
To a question, he was of the view that in Senate, only 40 of 103 members cast their ballots, and Senate was a platform that united provinces and played an important role in legislation.
“We consider the presidential poll controversial,” he added, saying the circumstances under which the polls took place were disputed.
He said Tuesday’s major incident was the terror strike on DI Khan jail and government was quite over the issue, despite claiming that it would introduce change.
“Is this the promised change?” the ANP leader said.
“Even the media is biased over the issue and kept its eyes closed over jailbreak, proving to be a ‘Punjabi media’.”
If the particular incident had taken place in Punjab, the media’s reaction would have been different, Zahid said.
Wasim Sajjad of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid was of the view that it would have been better for the government not to indulge in any controversies over the presidential election.
“The situation would have been different, because the president is a symbol of federation.”
“Whatever happened is done, the president should now stay away from becoming disputed and should put aside party affiliations.”
The PML-Q leader said the new president should create an environment in which no lawmaker felt hesitation in visiting the presidency and should take on board all political parties in the larger interest of the country.
Commenting on the PPP boycott of polls, he said it was a political decision and every party enjoyed its right to boycott if it had reservations.
Jamat-e-Islami leader Fareed Ahmed Paracha termed the presidential poll unpleasant, saying the election had stained the beauty of the democratic system.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Paracha maintained that it was true that the PML-N held majority in parliament and would be able to bring their president.
“However, several things happened in this election that caused disgrace to the presidential poll, including the change in the schedule of the presidential poll, PML-N’s contact with the Supreme Court and Supreme Court’s decision on the initial hearing of the trial,” he said.
Paracha noted that on part of the opposition, the division was the most unpleasant situation faced and the opposition should not have been divided.
PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq said the presidential polls were complete in every context and fair enough in every aspect, including techinical and constitutional.
“This is the reason the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal), Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamat-e-Islami took part in the elections,” Haq added.
He said that if Pakistan People’s Party had reservations, they should not have blamed the Supreme Court or the Election Commission of Pakistan, but their own party leaders whose corruption brought them to this point.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Farooq Sattar said his hopes from the newly-elected president would take on board provincial entities, adding that the MQM would support the people friendly policies of the PML-N while staying in opposition.
When this GANG OF THIEVES WERE IN GOVERNMENT,DID THEY REMOVE REHMAN MALIK,DID THEY REMOVE RAJA PERVAIZ ASHRAF,DID THEY REMOVE OTHER CONVICTED MINISTER AND OTHER DISHONEST PERSONNEL FROM POSTS,NO .EVEN THEY DID NOT BOTHER TO LISTEN THEM.AND NOW WHICH MOUTH THEY ASK FOR REMOVAL OF CHAIRMAN OF ECP..SHAME,HORRIBLE,RUBBISH,NON-SENSE DEMAND AND ONLY PPP wishes to create anarchy and disturbances in the country and on this basis its existence was made.
MAULANA FAZEL REHMAN OF JUI IS VERY CUNNING AND POWER GREEDY MOLVI.HE WANTS POWER IN ANY WAY AND DOES NOT HONOR HIS RESPECT.HE IS NOT A SINCERE MAN ONLY WANTS SOME OFFICIAL RANKS AT ANY COST.
The decision of the Supreme Court on Presidential Elections is being termed as controversial by several political figures, media persons and even lawyers.
Whether the Supreme Court of Pakistan has stepped beyond its authority? The Supreme Court (SC) is being criticized for directing the election commission to hold polls on certain day other than that prescribed by ECP. Many critics say that the order is without jurisdiction as it was the authority of Election Commission of Pakistan to fix date and not of SC.
On this argument I wonder, registering a case is the authority of SHO then why a session judge orders him to register a case? Promoting a civil servant is the right of competent superior authority then why does Service Tribunal direct promotion? Arresting an accused is the authority of Police then why does the High Court direct a police officer to arrest someone?
Whether in the above cases the court stepped beyond its authority and usurp the powers of the concerned office bearers? Obviously not. Hence, it cannot be said that when Supreme Court directs the ECP to change the dates it was usurping its authority. It is totally misconception rather a misleading remark.
If such discretion is not exercised keeping in view the above mentioned logical and necessary consideration then the exercise of discretion would be arbitrary. It is again well settled that where there is the case of arbitrary exercise of discretion the courts may intervene; because the concerned authority is bound by law to exercise its discretion logically and judiciously. When it does not do so it is in violation of what it is bound by law to do; in such case under Articles 199 and 184 the courts may direct the authority to exercise the discretion judiciously and not arbitrarily..
Now the question is whether in fixing the date of 27th Ramadan the EC exercised its discretion arbitrarily? As mentioned above, the foremost consideration should be whether or not the maximum people would have opportunity to vote on the designated day? In the thirty days available with the ECP the last ten days of Ramadan is undisputedly a period in which the lowest number of voters is expected to cast its vote. Hence, the ECP exercised its discretion in contrast to the logic and reasoning and fixed the date in such period as may deprive many voters from voting.
On the other hand such date fixation would also put the voters in difficulty of opting one out of exercise of voting right or performance of religious obligation. One wonders why it was necessary to put the people in difficulty of making such selection? Suppose, if we put this to Islamic Scholars do we anticipate a unanimous answer to the question that whether in such situation the member of electoral college should relinquish vote or Umra and It’ikaaf. I don’t think that there would be any definite opinion of majority. The result would be another disagreement among the nation. Similarly, if the general elections would be held on 9th or 10th of Muharram, when one brothers belonging to one sect are busy, we all would complain that it is the wrong exercise of discretion.
Some people make these religious reasons fun of. For a time being, forget that these are the religious obligations. Suppose there is some festival and most of the people are expected to attend that festival and not to vote. Would it be logical to hold elections on that particular day? Obviously, not. Similarly, choosing those ten days out of thirty days in which many of the members of electoral college would be deprived from voting right while the remaining would be unnecessarily put in the trouble of opting one out of two obligations, is a clear case of arbitrary exercise of jurisdiction. Hence, the Supreme Court had all the authority to intervene and direct the authority to fix other date.
Though the other candidates were not necessary parties, however, if they had moved the court for making them party they could be allowed. But they did not opt to do so because they had some ulterior objectives.
In view of the above submissions I believe that the Supreme Court has not stepped beyond its authority and has made the right decision. Then why is this criticism?
The answer is hidden in who is making the criticism. Foremost, is the Pakistan People’s Party who has personal vendetta against the Chief Justice of Pakistan and who is afraid that Mr. Zardari may not be punished for his deeds after leaving throne. The other name is Ms. Asma Jahangir who always remains ahead in maligning the Chief Justice and upon this decision she had found an opportunity to defame him which is her hobby. Further, her support for PPP is not hidden from any one. Further are the lawyers like Babar Sattar and many PPP supported office bearers of bar, who never remained impartial figures and always been criticizing on Supreme Court.
What is the grievance of all these persons? Every person having common sense knows that whether the elections are held on August 6 or July 31, the result would have been the same. PPP and PTI knew that they had lost. They are just taking benefit of this judgment of Supreme Court and want to hide their defeat and to derail the democracy by making elections of President as controversial though they are not.
Everybody can sense that Chief Justice of Pakistan is not being criticized for making some wrong decision. But because he has stood against corruption and favoritism. Because he has put the bureaucracy to task. Because he has issued the notices to state inside a state that is ISI. Because he has saved the people of this nation from fraud of those who governs. Because he has taken up the case of missing persons. This is the reason for which Musharraf sent reference against him and arrested him. This is the reason PPP and its allies are unhappy with him and this might be the reason that Nawaz Sharif may become unhappy with him. Another recent reason might be taking up of the case of DHA who again think themselves above the law.
All this is being done with malicious intention to deprive the nation of a person who stands by the nation and against power elite. The programmes in media, the comments of anchorpersons, the projection of anti –CJP people all lead to one inference that there is someone who is initiating movement against the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan. It might be a cult of business tycoons like Ch. Riaz, ISI officials involved in kidnapping innocent people, Political figures and DHA corporate lords. But one thing we know that no one has authority except Allah Almighty.
May Allah Bless us with sincere office bearers and May Allah save our good people from conspiracies.
Comments are closed.