Islamabad:
The Pakistan Electoral Commission (ECP) rejected on Saturday what it called “baseless propaganda” disseminated in certain media circles in response to a renewed criticism following the decision of the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on the reserved seats.
The criticism occurred after the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI).
This decision allowed the leader coalition, led by the Pakistani Muslim League of Nawaz (PML-N), to become the largest party and to consolidate a majority of two thirds of the National Assembly.
In the midst of changing political dynamics, the ECP reiterated its constitutional role and defended the legality of its decisions, claiming that the affirmations were contrary to the facts and intended to mislead the public.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the ECP said that certain media circles were engaged in base-based propaganda against the Commission following the recent Decision of the Superior Court. The spokesman said the Commission said this propaganda is contrary to the facts and based on lies.
The press release indicates that these elements were aimed without justice the commission with criticism. He added that the historical facts and numerous decisions of the higher judiciary provide irrefutable evidence that the Commission has always exercised its duties in the light of the Constitution and the law. “The Supreme Court has repeatedly maintained the position of the electoral commission,” he read.
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For example, during the elections in the Senate, the spokesman said that the position of the commission concerning the secret ballot and the demonstration of hands procedures, which was entirely in accordance with article 226 of the Constitution, was confirmed by a bench of the Supreme Court led by the CJP judge of the Gulzar Ahmed era.
In the case of the election of disqualification in Daska, added the manager, the committee’s decision was not only declared valid by the Supreme Court bench, led by the chief judge of the time, Umar Ata Bandial, but also recognized as a constitutional action.
The Supreme Court bench led by the chief judge at the time Qazi Faez Isa had also approved the legal interpretation of the commission concerning the intra-parties of PTI, according to the press release.
Furthermore, he said, in the case of the radiation from the Muslim League All Pakistan (APML), when the Commission has struck the APML for omitting to lead intra-parties, and this decision was challenged by the APML before the Supreme Court, the Court confirmed the decision of the Commission.
Following this, the spokesman said that the Commission has struck down several other parties that did not respect the law, keeping in mind the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also accepted the appeal of the Commission concerning the electoral courts of the Punjab, rejecting the decision of the High Court of Lahore and confirming the position of the Commission.
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Likewise, it was maintained, in the recent case concerning the reserved seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council, first the High Court of Peshawar and now the Constitutional SC bench have confirmed the position of the Constitution and Legal Commission.
“All these judicial decisions and many others are undeniable proof that the electoral commission does not change its decisions due to political pressure, public clamors or inexpensive popularity,” said the spokesperson, adding that CEP exercises its functions only on the basis of constitutional requirements, legal jurisdiction and proofs.
The ECP said that it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Commission is a constitutional institution which is not intimidated by the unscrupulous tactics of a political party or an acquired interest group. Consequently, it has concluded, it is in no way appropriate to hold the commission responsible for gaps and weaknesses.
