PM castigated Election Commission
ONE of the most serious problems in his new found sparring with the Election Commission.
In his speech after obtaining the vote, the Prime Minister once again criticised the ECP and suggested that the electoral body should get a secret briefing from the intelligence agenciess to understand how much money had been used in the Senate elections.
By repeatedly accusing the ECP of not doing its job, in my considered opinion, PM is creating unnecessary tension with constitutional institutions like ECP that has done well to take firm action against the electoral manipulation that was witnessed in the Daska by-election. In the Senate elections too, the ECP has followed the option of the Supreme Court.
The number of votes indicated the ruling alliance with 180 members is completely intact as the speaker could not cast his vote whereas Senator-elect Faisal Vawda who resigned from the Assembly on 03 March after polling his vote in the Senate’s election in an apparent move to avoid his possible disqualification for hiding his dual nationality while contesting the 2018 elections, saw the proceedings from the gallery.
Prime minister, who attended the sitting after nearly six months, had volunteered to seek the Assembly’s confidence in response to the joint opposition demanded for his resignation after the defeat of Hafeez Shaikh in much hyped 03 March poll for the Senate seat from Islamabad.
In his 50-minute speech, Prime Minister thanked the law-makers belonging to the PTI and allied parties for reposing confidence in him, castigated the Election Commission of Pakistan for allegedly failing to conduct the Senate election in a transparent manner, made personal attacks on the opposition leadership.
Prime Minister had been elected to the post with 176 votes, three years ago and on 6th March he has secured 178 votes.
The Election Commission warned the government it won’t succumb to pressure, and advised PTI to stop mudslinging after losing Senate election.
Federal Ministers should know the ECP enjoys contempt of court proceedings as per Article 204.
For the guidance of politicians, I want to draw the attention to Article 204 under Election Act of 2017 Section 10, empowers to punish for contempt its very clear on this.
It seems that ECP may exercise the same power as the High Court to punish any person for contempt of court and the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 V of 2003, or any other law pertaining to contempt of court.
—The writer is former Federal Secretary ECP and currently Chairman National Democratic Foundation.
