Three member bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk commenced the hearing regarding the local bodies’ election on Monday. The court has asked ECP and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) to submit the report suggesting the preliminary steps taken regarding local bodies’ elections, within a month.
Advocate General Sindh informed the court that the bill for delimitation of constituencies in Sindh would be presented in the provincial assembly today whereas Advocate General Punjab gave a similar assurance. The court was informed that the authority of delimitation of constituencies in Sindh and Punjab would be given to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after approval of the ordinance. Advocate Akram Sheikh represented ECP in court, he advised that demarcation of constituencies in 45 days in not plausible. The process would instead be completed within 6 months. He pleaded the court to hear out ECP’s plea regarding delimitation of constituencies in 45 days. Apex Court adjourned the matters related to demarcation of constituencies in Sindh and Punjab including the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) till October 30. Earlier, ECP had requested Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) to extend the date for redefining local bodies’ constituencies in Punjab and Sindh. In its petition, ECP has maintained that this would require at least 6 months while SCP had earlier ruled to complete the job within 45 days. ECP had pleaded that the task will at least take 6 months to be fulfilled. A three-member bench has been formed under the headship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk, Justice Ameer Haani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Chaudhry.
