ECP decides to extend Election Tribunals' tenure

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to extend Election Tribunals' tenure by four to six months. A notification in this regard will be issued soon. The ECP had constituted 14 tribunals on June 3, 2013 after it was flooded with 435 complaints pertaining to discrepancies in election process.
Under Section 67 of the Representation of Peoples' Act 1976, the tribunals were supposed to dispose of the cases in 120 days (October). Each judge of the tribunal enjoys the perks and privileges equivalent to BPS-21 officer including Rs 75,000 as conveyance allowance and Rs 150,000 as a monthly salary for which Ministry of Finance has released the money to ECP. Although the tribunals have resolved more than 290 cases out of the 405 petitions after the ECP itself settled 30 cases, more than 100 cases are pending with the tribunals, as their tenure expired on June 30.