SC to intervene in polls if 'ill intent' detected.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday warned that the apex court would intervene if it witnessed any malpractice in conducting "transparent" polls, a private TV channel reported. The top judge also expressed his displeasure over the recent audio and video leaks related to the judiciary, particularly that involving him. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJP Bandial, continued the hearing of a plea against the transfer of Ghulam Mahmood Dogar as the Lahore police chief. However, the court dismissed the appeal against the Lahore capital city police officer's (CCPO) transfer after the ECP withdrew it. "I withdraw the appeal against the transfer of Ghulam Mehmood Dogar," Abid Zuberi, the ECP's lawyer, told the court. However while withdrawing the appeal, Zuberi told the SC that after the setting up of the caretaker government, the election schedule had been released. He added that according to Article 218, it was the commission's responsibility to conduct fair and transparent elections.

The electoral watchdog's lawyer continued that the ECP had the authority to make changes in the bureaucracy to ensure a level playing field during the polls. The CJP noted that Article 218 authorised the ECP to give orders to the caretaker government to transfer officers. Justice Yahya Afridi inquired when did the ECP use its powers to approve Dogar's transfer. Zuberi replied that the ECP had given an oral approval to the caretaker government for the transfer of the Lahore CCPO on January 23. He added that the caretaker government had decided to change the entire bureaucracy of the province for the transparency of the elections.

The CJP observed that the...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT