Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct transparent delimitations of constituencies for ensuring free and fair election in the country.
The Chief Justice made these remarks as a two-member bench, comprising Justice Bandial and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, heard a petition concerning irregularities and unlawful practices in the delimitation of constituencies PS-07, PS-08, and PS-09 in Sindh’s Shikarpur district.
With the recent approval of final results from the nation’s first-ever digital census, the ECP is now tasked with conducting a fresh delimitation of constituencies. However, the electoral body has indicated that executing polls based on the new delimitation might necessitate four to six months, raising concerns that general elections might not occur this year.
During the court proceedings, Chief Justice Bandial underscored that delimitation had been a recurring topic of discussion in the Supreme Court, reflecting its significance to the public.
He pointed out that maintaining transparency in the process was crucial.
Chief Justice Bandial highlighted the potential impact of even minor adjustments made by revenue officials (tapedars) on candidate votes.
Inquiring about the schedule for the upcoming general elections, Chief Justice Bandial received a response indicating that no date had been finalized yet. He stressed that the ECP should address all pertinent issues before proceeding with the polls.
Chief Justice Bandial acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter in Sindh, where concerns often arise regarding inaccurate delimitations in the province.
Following thorough deliberations, the Supreme Court referred the matter back to the Election Commission for further consideration.
