Supreme Court to decide on Senate election today.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan is most likely to announce today its opinion on the Presidential Reference seeking opinion on holding Senate election through open or secret ballot without a constitutional amendment.

A five-member larger bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed had reserved its verdict on the reference on Thursday (February 25) after conclusion of proceedings on presidential reference seeking legal opinion to hold Senate elections on open ballot without a constitutional amendment.

Advocate Shajeel Swati counsel for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had requested the court to announce its opinion by February 28, in order to make relevant arrangements for the Senate elections which are scheduled for March 3.

According to a supplementary cause list issued by the SC, the registrar office has issued notices to the attorney general, chief election commissioner, Senate chairman and speakers of the national and provincial assemblies, advocates general for the four provinces, members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others.

The opinion will be announced in the open court by a five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Yahya Afridi at 9:00 am on Monday (today).

'Illegal practices'

Also, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed hope that the political parties, candidates, voters and election agents would not indulge in any kind of corrupt or illegal practices as defined in chapter-X of the Elections Act 2017.

According to an official of ECP, as per code of conduct issued for political parties, contesting candidates, election agents and voters for Senate elections 2021, they all should abide by all directions and instructions issued by the ECP from time to time relating to smooth conduct of elections.

Contesting candidates, election agents and their supporters would not solicit the support or assistance of any person in the service of Pakistan or any public office to promote or hinder the election of contesting candidate in any manner.

He said as per code of conduct the political parties, candidates, voters and election agents would not propagate any opinion, or act in any manner prejudicial to the glory of Islam and ideology of Pakistan, or the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan, or morality or public order, or the integrity or independence of the...

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