CJP Umar Ata Bandial says ECP should conduct delimitations of constituencies in a transparent manner

ISLAMABAD, August 15 (SABAH): Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial said on Tuesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should conduct the process of delimitations of the constituencies in a transparent manner, stressing that it was a “matter of public interest”.

The top judge passed these remarks as a two-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, comprising Justice Bandial and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, took up a petition pertaining to errors and illegalities in the delimitation for PS-07, PS-08 and PS-09 of Sindh’s Shikarpur district.

After the final results of the first-ever digital census were approved earlier this month, the ECP is now expected to conduct fresh delimitation of constituencies.

The delimitation issue was also brought up during the SC hearing on Tuesday as the CJP remarked that the matter had come to the top court several times.

If the tapedar (revenue official) modifies the dotted circles during the delimitation [process], it would affect votes of the candidates contesting from the constituencies, he said. “This is a matter of public interest.”

The ECP, Justice Bandial stressed, should conduct delimitations transparently. “There is a lot of sensitivity on delimitations in Sindh,” he highlighted, adding that grievances regarding incorrect delimitations often came from the province.

Furthermore, CJP Bandial inquired when were the general elections being held. To this, the Director General (Law) of the Election Commission of Pakistan Muhammad Arshad shrugged his shoulders.

“As yet, no date for the elections has been decided. The election commission should resolve all issues before the polls,” the CJP said.

“This matter is more sensitive in Sindh. Grievances often come forth that delimitations in the province were not correct,” he added.

After hearing the arguments, the SC referred the matter back to the electoral body.