LAHORE: The election commission’s act of acquiring electronic voting/biometric machines allegedly from an Indian company has been challenged before the Lahore High Court.

In a writ petition filed on behalf of a citizen, Advocate Azhar Siddique said the commission opened bidding to acquire the electronic voting machines since it intended to hold the next general election on biometric system.

He said three Indian companies, including Indra Kamra, Reliance and Morpho, had also submitted their bids. He alleged the commission was likely to approve bids of the Indian companies.

He pleaded it would be dangerous for Pakistan’s security if electronic voting and thumb impression machines were purchased from Indian companies.

The lawyer argued that the electronic voting system should not be acquired from any Indian company for security concerns.

ICA: Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed has filed an intra-court appeal challenging dismissal of his writ petition by a Lahore High Court single bench that sought direction for the federal government to take up the Kashmir issue at the international level.

The appeal filed through Advocate A.K. Dogar states that the single bench dismissing the petition ruled that the matter raised by the petitioner was not justifiable before the court and fell within the domain of politics.

The lawyer in the same order observed that the courts were obliged to adjudicate upon a question that required interpretation or application of any provision of the Constitution. He stated that the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India.

He contended that it was the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect.

He prayed in the appeal that the decision of the single bench be set aside and a direction be issued to the government to enhance pressure on the UN to get its resolutions implemented to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016