The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) may take a suo motu notice of its former additional secretary Afzal Khan allegations that he levelled against the then chief election commissioner and members of the commission for their alleged involvement in rigging the general elections 2013.
An official of the commission told Business Recorder the commission has been delegated suo motu powers under section 103A of Representation of People's Act 1976 (ROPA). "The commission may take up the matter by invoking 103A section of the ROPA against Afzal Khan for his allegations against the commission," the official added. Replying to a question, he said it would be the first time in the history of the country that the commission would possibly use this authority. "The next meeting of the commission is yet to be scheduled; it will mull over a strategy to deal with allegations levelled by Afzal Khan on the Election Commissioner," he added.
The 103A states: "Power of Commission to punish for contempt.-The Commission shall have the same power as the High Court has to punish any person for contempt of court and the Contempt of Court Act, 1976 (XLIV of 1976), shall have effect accordingly, as if reference therein to a "court" and to a "judge" were a reference, respectively, to the "Commission" and the Commissioner or, as the case may be, a member of the Commission".
The official further said that the ECP office has been dysfunctional since August 13 as a result of 'dharnas' of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tahreek (PAT) on the Constitution Avenue alongside the ECP's office. Members of the commission or staff of ECP could not reach to their office because of blockade of the road leading to the office.
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