The Lahore High Court on Tuesday summoned Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to show up today and inform the court about the scrutiny process adopted for the upcoming senate elections.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed the orders while hearing petitions filed by Shahid Pervaiz Jami and Munir Ahmad who were seeking the implementation of Article 62 and 63 to stop ineligible candidates from contesting the coming senate elections and challenging the use of faulty nomination papers.
During the course of the proceedings, the provincial election commissioner (PEC) appeared before the court after he was summoned. The petitioner-counsel Shahid Pervaiz Jami pointed out that faulty nomination papers were being used for the coming senate elections.
To a court query, the PEC said that the election commission was not empowered to change nomination papers for senate elections. He said that only the federal government could change them.
The court asked the PEC whether any summary had been moved for the purpose. To which, the PEC replied that no summary had yet been forwarded. At this, the court criticised the use of faulty nomination papers for senate elections and observed that the election commission should put its house in order.
The petitioner’s counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique submitted that the Election Commission failed to issue any guidelines for the scrutiny process regarding the implementation of Article 62 & 63 of the Constitution.
He pleaded the court to direct the Election Commission to present the mode, manner and procedure for scrutinising the candidates.
To a court query, the PEC replied that the concerned departments would be approached, if any objections were raised for any of the candidates.
However, the court asked the PEC to inform it about arrangements made for the scrutiny of the candidates. To which the PEC admitted that the commission did not have any data through which it could scrutinise anyone.
At this, the court observed that it seemed like the commission had not made any arrangements for scrutiny and implementation of the constitutional provisions.
The court adjourned the matter till February 11, 2015.
