The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought explanation from Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chairman National Database and Regulatory Authority (NADRA) over failure to comply with the court orders for preparation of electoral rolls by February 23.
The court observed that after the passage of 20th Constitutional Amendment, there was no need of further action against the 28 parliamentarians who were elected under the incomplete Election Commission, saying notices issued to them stand discharged.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the identical petitions filed by Chairman PTI Imran Khan and others. The petitioners had sought court directives for preparation and updating of electoral rolls by deleting bogus voters. Addressing Joint Secretary ECP the chief justice asked why the electoral lists in the pursuance of court orders were not compiled so far?
The CJP noted that what people would expect from the institutions, which were disobeying the apex court's orders. Justice Arif Hussain Khilji observed, "it has become fashion to defy the court orders." While addressing the Attorney General for Pakistan the CJP said, "Court orders have been violated publicly."
The Chief Justice observed as to why Nadra took the responsibility if it was not able to carry out the project well in time. Upon this, counsel for Nadra apprised the bench that the Authority had done its best to meet the deadline and had made 145000 census blocks instead of one million, which disturbed Nadra mapping plan.
During the hearing, a PML-N MNA Naseer Bhutta objected over Nadra's scheme of blocks on which the CJP asked him to raise the objection in the Parliament.
On the occasion, the CJP appreciated Federal Law Minister saying, "I am impressed by Chandio who said in a statement that recent constitutional amendment was passed due to Supreme Court of Pakistan."
The CJP categorically observed that Nadra overlooked the seriousness of the matter, adding that lack of seriousness has become custom everywhere. Justice Tariq Pervaiz observed that independent Election Commission did not mean 'free', saying that all the institutions are under the command of the Constitution of Pakistan. The bench also noted that the ECP and Nadra changed the schedule of preparing electoral rolls sans informing the Court. The hearing was adjourned till March 6.