SC rejects petition against CEC appointment.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday upheld the objections of apex court Registrar Office and dismissed a constitutional petition against the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

A two-member SC bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial conducted hearing of a citizen's appeal against the objections of SC Registrar Office.

Ali Azeem Afridi Advocate had filed the petition under Article 184 (3) of Constitution pleading to declare the appointment of the incumbent CEC unconstitutional in the eyes of the law.

Justice Bandial said that an honest, dedicated and capable officer is appointed as the chief of Election Commission Pakistan (ECP). He added that before appointing the incumbent CEC the government must have seen his credentials and competency. The Acting CJP inquired from the petitioner whether the incumbent CEC is a serving bureaucrat or judge. The petitioner replied 'no'.

At this, Justice Bandial said that then there was no need to pursue this case. He stated that the incumbent CEC is a retired civil servant and that there were no solid grounds provided in the plea for his dismissal. He said that according to the Constitution, the constitutional amendment cannot be challenged.

The petitioner had submitted that 'section 4 of the Constitution (Twenty-Second Amendment) Act, 2016 (XXV OF 2016); to the extent of allowing appointment of senior civil servant and technocrat as chief election commissioner and by treating them...