PML-N requests SC to hold presidential elections on July 30

Dawn.com Published July 23, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), submitted on Tuesday a request in the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking to hold the upcoming presidential elections before the announced date of Aug 6, DawnNews reported.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan constituted a three-member bench to hear the petition submitted by the senior PML-N leader.

Raja Zafarul Haq in his request asked the apex court not to hold the presidential elections during the last Ashra (ten days) of Ramazan.

Raja's petition sought to hold presidential elections on July 30.

Earlier the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had turned down a request made by the government to change the date for presidential election and said the poll would be held on Aug 6 as already announced by the commission.

Code of Conduct

Moreover, the ECP on Tuesday issued a code of conduct for lawmakers with regards to the presidential elections.

According to the code of conduct the presidential elections would be conducted through secret balloting and the lawmakers would only have to put a cross in front of the name of the candidate they would want to vote for.

No other symbol or mark would be allowed on the ballot paper.

Apart from the designated special pencil, no other pen or pencil would be allowed to mark the vote.

The legislators would have to present their CNIC for identification purposes.

The presidential elections would be held in the upper house of parliament followed by the lower house of parliament.

Pakistan

Pakistan’s mineral exploration increasingly focused on strategic resources, minister tells investors

Security forces kill 74 terrorists during IBOs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan: ISPR

National Population Council says rapid population growth a national emergency

sabeeh omer

Jul 23, 2013 04:11pm

PML(N) plea to change the date for Presidential Election is very valid on the grounds that the last ten days of Ramadan keeps the Muslims occupied in different acts of worship. If the election date is rescheduled neither heavens would fall nor would it mean the end of Pakistan. In the very first instance, it is nothing but the short-sightedness of the ECP not to have taken into account the importance of the last ten days of Ramadan in consideration whilst announcing the date for the Presidential poll.

Recommend 0

Guest63

Jul 23, 2013 04:20pm

In My humble opinion , SC must reject this request straight away and tell the senator to go the appropriate forum i.e Independent Election Commission ( ECP ) and do not waste the court's time . What the law makers do in ramadan is there private business and going to Umrah or sitting eteqaf , is not a legal and constitution binding on a law maker But participating and voting in the presidential election is a constitution and by law required of them ...

Recommend 0

Ali

Jul 23, 2013 04:26pm

Supreme Court should declare last 10 days of Ramazan public holiday for everyone including Medical staff , military , police etc so everyone can perform their religious duties equally.

Recommend 0

Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Jul 23, 2013 05:12pm

Stick to August 6, please!

Recommend 0

Osama Sarwar

Jul 23, 2013 05:47pm

All good as along as it's carried out before the 8th of August!

Recommend 0

Muhammad Mirza

Jul 23, 2013 06:11pm

@sabeeh omer: I like your comments but one question that those ten days are they still drawing full salaries, compensation, paying the taxes and hydro bills.

Recommend 0

Yousaf

Jul 23, 2013 06:49pm

Why should the SC even have a say in when elections are held. The purpose of the SC to uphold the existing law but this SC seems to be running the country.

Recommend 0

Mujtaba

Jul 23, 2013 06:57pm

I hope that Imran Khan gets a chance

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Jul 23, 2013 09:23pm

@Ali: Statements and decisions as sweeping as you suggested are NEVER viable and are among worse actions.

Recommend 0

Anonymous

Jul 23, 2013 10:06pm

The constitution requires that the election be held not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of the president in office. These people should have decided this earlier on, SC is no venue to overturn the ECP's direction, it clearly shows blatant disregard of the office of the ECP. PML-N leadership is very weak in prompt decision-making, with all due respect, they are as selfish as one can be when it comes to their interests, so would all politicians be. They could not decide who to pick for the candidacy, they picked 6, in contrast PPP and PTI choose their candidates in a split of a second and that too ONE each. PML-N choose the retired chief justice, who they had dragged in 2008 as well, who did not swear to the PCO oath (correct me if I am wrong) with no party affiliation and on that also they couldn't decide as they had not planned it earlier, they kept on saying we would want him to come up as a unanimous candidate and that too was declared after selection by the other parties was finalized. Remaining two candidates out of which the best man for the job could still not be selected, as he holds the foreign affairs portfolio. The PTI candidate according to sources, another non-PCO judge, did agree not to run for the post against the retired chief justice, if PML-N president would speak to Chairman PTI. They are poor decision makers, I hope they pull up their socks and steer the country out of numerous turmoil that engulfs it.

Recommend 0

K.A.Muhammad

Jul 23, 2013 10:31pm

He further gave the reference of various reports published in the media according to which more than a hundred lawmakers would not be available to participate in the presidential elections on Aug 6 as they would be engaged in Aitekaf, Umrah and other religious duties. I shall much appreciate and be obliged if the concerned quarters would differentiate between "Would be Engaged" and "Would be Performing" Religious Duties! Besides, is there a documentary evidence to prove that all of these lawmakers indeed perform such religious duties and were in the past physically present throughout the nights (Ashra=Ten) during "Aiteqaf". Isn't Religion, Faith, Belief and Following personal having nothing to do with Government!

Recommend 0

K.A.Muhammad

Jul 23, 2013 11:00pm

@sabeeh omer: Haven't you read that these very lawmakers have disputed over many of the Articles, Sub-Articles, Clauses and Sub-clauses of the Constitution by giving their own interpretations! It is for this very reason that the Supreme Court has been Constitutionally given its place! However, the constitution is always used by both, the Government and the Opposition to gain maximum advantage by self interpretation. Political history of Pakistan is replete with instances of how the constitution had been treated with by these very politicians of the past and the present.

Recommend 0

Faisal

Jul 23, 2013 11:18pm

Its just an excuse to interfere in ECP schedule of conducting presidential elections.

Recommend 0

marghoobahmedsiddiqui

Jul 23, 2013 11:58pm

What is the harm if requirements of Constitution are fulfilled?

Recommend 0

faisal

Jul 24, 2013 01:34am

It is hard to work Ramadan so i think we should have holidays for whole month of Ramadan+5 days of Eid.

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Faruqui

Jul 24, 2013 01:44am

@Ali: Why 10 days , there should be a month holiday, we do not have to work like other countries which have water gas electricity hospitals ,welfare system and excellant justice system , we are a muslim country we will get every thing sitting at home.

Recommend 0

Aftab Kenneth Wilson

Jul 24, 2013 02:02am

PM is a blue eyed boy of our Chief Justice. His plea will be approved. Only PPP and their leadership was and is under his swords.

Recommend 0