Supreme Court directs ECP to monitor election expenses

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to monitor all the expenses during the polls, baring the candidates to transport voters into the polling stations.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the petition filed by Chairman Watan Party Barrister Zafarullah Khan, seeking limited expenditures by political parties during the elections.

The petitioner informed the court that contesting in the elections was now very difficult for the common man as he has to contest against a candidate who has ample amounts of money to spend on a campaign.

The ruling observed, “Restrictions are to be placed on candidates’ cars which are used to transport voters to polling stations and political rallies are to be monitored”.

According to the orders every political party has the right to take part in elections and to try to become part of the government under Article 17 of the Constitution. Hence, it is responsibility of the ECP to make sure that the political groups strictly follow the election rules as it has the constitutional mandate to do so.

It further said every candidate for the sake of democracy should get a chance to take part in elections, as every elected representative come to power through democratic process.

The court directed the ECP to mobilize its staff to monitor expenditures at different places, asking it to introduce computerized balloting system in the country.

The orders asked the candidates to submit the transport expense details for bringing voters from their homes while the services of Army and Frontier Constabulary (FC) could be obtained to verify the electoral polls.

According to the judgment the polling stations should not be more than two kilometers away from residences of the voters. The commission should ensure that every voter uses his/her voting right according to his personal will and not by any influence.

The verdict further said that federal employees and employees of independent institutions should be deployed as polling staff instead of provincial employees.

The Supreme Court stated that political parties will not be allowed to set up their tents or camps near polling stations.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=25153

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jun 8 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.