Stopping by-polls by SC unconstitutional

Chief Election Commissioner termed SC's order to stop by-polls clear violation of the constitution.

During a meeting of Election Commission of Pakistan, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza said that voter lists could not be finalized till Feb 23 adding that conducting by-polls within stipulated time period was also responsibility of the Election Commission.

Earlier, the Supreme Court has ordered the ECP to complete the voter lists till February 23.

The ECE said that all the lists which would be prepared without fulfilling of legal requirements would be unconstitutional adding that if any institution would force to complete it soon, would also be responsible of mistakes in lists.

Moreover, addressing a news conference, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmad said that the commission was bound to arrange elections within 60 days.

He said that preparation for voting list was started in 2009. Some elements are propagating that this work was started on the direction of any political force, he said. NADRA has assigned the duty to prepare voting lists which would issue final lists on May 25, he said.

He informed that next elections would be contested according to old constituencies. He said that the political parties would like to see the Election Commission powerful.