ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday expressed serious concern over Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) due to non-completion of electoral list and rejected the explanation for delay.
A two member bench headed by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of the case regarding the completion of transparent voters' list.
During course of hearing,Attorney General for Pakistan Molvi Anwar-ul-Haq informed the court that the process of registration of voters list is underway and the ECP is making efforts for its early completion.
He said that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had to face delay in issuing of National Identity Cards due to preparation of the voters list.
AG also submitted a written reply on behalf of the members of Election Commission before the court.
In reply, members informed the bench that they were not aware of the July 4th SC order as well as contract between NADRA and ECP.
They said that ECP management informed about SC orders on December 4 meeting and expressed their regret due to delay in preparation of the voter list. Members further said that they had no intention to disobey the Supreme Court order and steps have been taken in good faith.
On this the CJ remarked that it means members were kept in dark by ECP management.
He said that SC wants unpolluted and transparent voters list, as it is in the benefit of 180 million people of the country.
AG also submitted a reply of Secretary Election Commission before the bench and said that legislative Assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and Balochistan passed the resolution for seeking time due to flood and Chief Election Commissioner of Sindh also requested the same.
The CJ remarked that these requests were made in August and despite there was no difficulty to complete the voters list by February 23.
He said updating voters' lists on annual basis is the legal requirement of the Election Commission, and the ECP has failed to fulfill it.
The court also expressed displeasure over Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, Secretary Election Commission and directed him to produce the authentic copy of his resignation which he had sent to the Prime Minister and published in an English daily.
Secretary General of Pakistan People's Party Jahangir Badr apprised the court that Shaeed Benazir Bhutto had also filed a plea regarding the preparation of transparent computerized voters list for holding free and fair elections.
The CJ remarked that the court would decide this petition on merit and notices were also issued to his party for this purpose. Further hearing of the case was adjourned till March 14.
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