ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) application for extension in timeframe for preparation of electoral rolls.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Pervaiz heard Imran Khan and late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s Constitutional petitions against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The ECP filed the application that it was not possible for the Commission to meet the deadline ,therefore, some more time be given regarding preparation of voter lists.
On July 4th, 2011 the Secretary ECP himself gave commitment regarding updating the electoral rolls.
According to the commitment 37 million bogus votes have been excluded from voter lists, but 36 million new voters would be included with the assistance of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
The campaign for the verification of 80 million voters would be launched from July 18th,2012 and will be completed in a month’s time.
It has also been decided to include pictures in the voters list.
The Secretary had informed that 0.1 million people would be engaged for door-to-door campaign to register new voters.
He had stated that the whole exercise will be completed by December 2011 and by February 23rd 2012, the voters lists would be finalised.
During the proceedings, the bench rejecting the Election Commission of Pakistan application said that when the Commission failed to meet the deadline they approached the court, while they should have filed this application earlier.
In the last hearing, the court had directed the Secretary Election Commission and Chairman National Database and Registration Authority to file explanation that why the court order for preparation of electoral rolls by February 23rd was not complied by them.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said what would people have expectations from the ECP, which does not obey the orders of the Supreme Court.
He said that application of mind and sincerity is lacking everywhere.