ISLAMABAD, July 14: Supreme Court (SC) has ordered federal government to appoint members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) till July 27.
Chief Justice (CJ) Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked ” No one will be allowed to play with the constitution.
He further remarked “implementation of constitution is our objective. We are not concerned either someone is in the country or otherwise. We don’t want this issue runs for 6 years. Population census has not already taken place since the last 8 years in the country. Had government completed the process of appointment of ECP member before June, 12 then ECP would not have gone dysfunctional.
A 2-member bench of SC presided over by CJ Anwar Zaheer Jamali took up for hearing suo motu case of appointment of ECP members Thursday.
At the inception of hearing Additional Attorney General (AAG) Rana Waqar took the plea members were retired on June, 12. Constitutional period is 45 days which goes upto July 27.
CJ remarked ” government should have completed this phase earlier so that ECP would not have gone dysfunctional. Why the job was not completed before June, 12.
The prosecutor said Prime Minister (PM) was outside the country due to which delay was caused in appointment of members of ECP. However consultation process is underway with all the opposition parties.
CJ remarked ” we have no concern with meetings between government and opposition. Our aim is constitution is implemented. We are not concerned if PM is in the country or otherwise. We don’t want the issue runs for 6 years. Population census has not been
conducted since the last 8 years.
The prosecutor said that detailed reply will be filed in the court during the next hearing of census case on Friday.
CJ remarked no one would be allowed to play with the constitution.
The court after hearing AAG ordered the government to appoint members of ECP till July 27 at every cost. -Online