The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the plea of Attorney General for Pakistan for more time for consultation with the government over conducting Population Census at the earliest in the country. Resuming the hearing of a suo motu case over delay in Population Census, a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that any attempt to defer the Census may lead to postponement of the next general elections.
Appearing on the notice in the matter, the AGP submitted that conducting Population Census is a sensitive activity which is not possible without the provision of Army personals, to which a member of the bench Justice Qazi Faiz Isa remarked that if Army has to perform duty in the census then where is the civilian government writ in the country.
It merits mentioning here that earlier the Apex Court asked the federal government to fulfil its constitutional duty saying failing which the forthcoming general elections would be fraudulent. However, the AGP sought more time to consult the government on the matter to which the bench adjourned the hearing till the last week of September.