F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday said that elections were more important than disputes over demarcations of constituencies.
In a written order on the petitions filed against demarcations made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that elections were a basic component of democracy. “A judge’s role is that of a guardian. The electoral process cannot be brought to a halt after the announcement of the election schedule,” read the verdict.
The judge further said that if the court would hear the pleas against delineations of constituencies, the election schedule risked getting affected.
If initiated, the court said, the hearing would invite a spate of petitions. “The clock is ticking. The date for elections is approaching. If the apex court starts hearing these petitions now, this would infringe upon the basic rights of millions of voters and political party workers. Therefore, the court has decided to prefer elections to hearing petitions against delimitations,” the judge wrote.
Courtesy: (24News)
