The Supreme Court (SC) has sought deadline from the Ministry of Defence till January 9 for conducting Local Bodies (LB) polls in cantonment board, also directing Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold these polls after obtaining new date from the defence ministry.
A three-member bench of the SC led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took up the case for hearing Tuesday.
Justice Azmat Saeed remarked, “Not holding elections in February is an old story. Some new story be told. What is the problem with the federal government in holding elections. Conducting elections is job of the ECP, not the federal government”.
The CJP remarked, “As per law, it is the responsibility of the ECP to hold elections in the cantonment areas”.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Shah Khawar told the court that elections cannot be held in cantonment board in February, due to non-completion of arrangements. More time is needed to seek a new date in this respect. Therefore, the court should grant more time,” he prayed.
Justice Azmat Saeed remarked, “This story has become old. Therefore, tell the court a new story and it will think over it then”.
The court directed the ECP to obtain a new date from Ministry Of Defence and hold elections in cantonment boards besides furnishing reply to the court on January 9.
