Supreme Court on Tuesday by issuing notice to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asked whether it would be convenient for ECP to hold local government elections in cantonment areas, as the general elections are also near to be conducted in the country.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the petition filed in 2009 by Rab Nawaz from Quetta pertaining to the holding of local government elections in cantonment areas.
The petitioner has sought justification from the authorities for violating the Constitution by not holding local government elections in cantonment areas for the past 14 years.
The Director Legal, Ministry of Defense, Commander Shahbaz told SC that the summary has been moved for the approval of the Prime Minister regarding local body’s elections in cantonment areas.
“Would it take 6 months for the approval of that summary”, the Chief Justice remarked. Sheikh Azmat Saeed stated, “We know that the matter is not being considered seriously”.
The SC then directed Defense Ministry to come up with full preparation and submit reply in this regard with full reasoning.
Subsequently, the SC adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
