Asghar Khan case: ECP cannot take action against accused politicians: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said on Monday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot take action against the accused politicians in the Asghar Khan case as there is no constitutional provision in this regard. While replying to media at ECP office, the CEC said the commission can take action against Rehman Malik in dual nationality case, only after receiving reference from the Senate chairman.
Elaborating on his meeting with Chief Justice, Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has assured him of appointing district returning officers in the upcoming elections. Later, a press release issued by the Supreme Court said the CEC requested the Chief Justice to include the district courts in the general election process. The CEC informed the Chief Justice that there is positive opinion to appoint session judges as returning officers.
The Chief Justice informed the CEC that the national judicial policy did not allow district courts to be involved in the election process and the reason to separate the judiciary from the elections is to avoid allegations of corruption. The Chief Justice assured that the requests made by the CEC would be reviewed during the next meeting of the Judicial Policy Making Committee scheduled for November 3. During consultation meeting of political parties with ECP, political parties declined to accept the results of upcoming general elections, if not held under judiciary.