Presidential Reference: SC directs Attorney General to complete arguments by Thursday
Presidential Reference: SC directs Attorney General to complete arguments by Thursday
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Attorney General (AG) to complete his arguments regarding the procedure of Senate elections by tomorrow (Thursday).
During the hearing, the Attorney General said that losing credibility in the public eye is a politician’s biggest failure. Elections should not be conducted with bags being distributed in the background. The Supreme Court has also disqualified members with fake degrees, false affidavits of dual citizenship and utility bill defaulters, he added.
The Chief Justice said that misrepresentation of oath is a crime in itself.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan remarked that had democracy persisted in the country, money might not have exchanged hands like this in politics. Can anyone voting against the party be called dishonest, he asked.
"How can I declare someone honest or dishonest," the attorney general said. The constitution mentions political parties and they are regulated by law. Being mentioning in the constitution does not mean they are formed under the constitution.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the vote is given to the party, not to an individual candidate, and it is legally required to publish the party manifesto.
The Attorney General said that the Election Commission does not conduct the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the court should declare that the election of the Chairman Senate is not held under the Constitution. If the court opines on the election of the chairman of the senate, it will be conducted through open ballot.
The court adjourned further hearing till Thursday.
