Punjab Election Commission not checking criminal records of LG candidates
Punjab Election Commission has not completed the constitutionally mandated responsibilities before the start of local government elections as there has been no check on candidates who have been implicated in FIRs or convicted by the courts, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Officials of the Punjab Election Commission told this Pakistan Today that the Commission had been handing blanket validation to candidates without any background check to find out if the candidates have a clean record.
Local government election is going to be held in 12 districts in Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Nankanasahib, Kasur, Pakpattan, Okara, Lodhran, Vehari and Bahawalnagar.
Officials further revealed that even Law Branch of Punjab Election Commission does not have experts with law degrees to look into the matter. Even Law Officer Muhammad Akhtar does not have a degree in law and he is tackling and running legal affairs of the Commission.
They revealed that candidates who have been convicted by courts for their crimes have not been listed with the Commission as no section or branch even at the district level has collected the relevant data.
They said that even bank defaulters are free to contest local government elections and it would be another matter if they are challenged in courts after their victory in the elections and are disqualified.
Punjab Election Commissioner Masud Ahmad Malik said that according to rules, candidates can contest the election even if they’re registered in an FIR and would be disqualified if the court gives its verdict against them.
He further said that the Commission had not so far verified record of the candidates to learn if some of them had been convicted by the courts. He said that the Commission would take action against such candidates if they’re challenged in court and a verdict given against them.
Legal experts, however, believe that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to collect data regarding the criminal records of candidates and give clearance only to those whose hands are clean.
