ISLAMABAD: Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have decided not to resign and, instead, face the proceedings by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

The decision was taken at an informal meeting of the ECP held on Monday to discuss the demand of some political parties for resignation of its members.

Informed sources told Dawn that one of the members pointed out at the meeting that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s lawyers’ forum had filed a reference in the council, seeking removal of the ECP members for alleged ‘misconduct by way of rigging’.

The meeting observed that the SJC was the proper and competent forum to decide such matters and, therefore, the ECP members would not take any decision till the decision of the council.

The members said they had been systematically ridiculed and stigmatised and false and baseless allegations of rigging had been levelled against them. Therefore, they would like the matter to be adjudicated upon.

A source in the ECP said the members had been disturbed by the tirade and during a recent informal meeting, they deplored that some politicians were trying to politicise the ECP instead of strengthening it and concentrating on electoral reforms to make future elections more transparent. They said it was difficult for them to work in an environment in which their credibility was under continuous attack.

However, he said, no formal meeting of the ECP had been held on Monday and the members had not planned to submit their resignations to the chief election commissioner (CEC).

According to him, if the commission members decided to quit they were to send their resignations to the president and not the CEC.

Otherwise, he said, the procedure for their removal was the same as for the judges of the superior courts. Under Article 209 of the constitution, the Supreme Judicial Council is the forum to look into the capacity or conduct of a judge.

In its reference filed in the council, the PTI lawyers’ forum has levelled general allegations about rigging, corruption, maladministration, malpractice, illegalities and irregularities in the 3013 general elections. It has not mentioned any specific allegation against any of the four ECP members.

Meanwhile, the ECP has announced schedule for by-elections in two constituencies of the National Assembly in Lahore and Lodhran.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Siddiq Baloch of the PML-N were de-seated by election tribunals on petitions filed by PTI leaders Imran Khan and Jehangir Tarin.

According to the schedule, nomination papers for NA-122 (Lahore) and NA-154 (Lodhran) will be filed on Sept 10 and 11 and scrutinised on Sept 14 and 15. Polling will take place on Oct 11.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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