ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday informed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) that the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) will consider their request for involving the district judiciary in the forthcoming elections.
He was speaking to Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim during a meeting, which was held here in pursuance of a written request made earlier by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The chief justice told the CEC that the national judicial policy barred the district judiciary from involvement in the elections process as it distracted the judicial officers from performance of their professional duty while complaints of corrupt practices tarnish the image of judiciary.
However, he assured that his request and sentiments of the civil society would be placed before the NJPMC for sympathetic consideration in the national interest in its meeting scheduled for November 3.
He said that the committee would also consider the possible role of the judges of the superior judiciary to supervise the district and assistant district returning officers to ensure transparent role of the district judiciary in the election.
The CEC earlier formally made a request to the chief justice to accord permission for involving the district judiciary in the upcoming general elections.
The CEC briefed the CJ that there was broad consensus among the civil society, political parties and media for enhancing the credibility of electoral process, so that the district and sessions judges might be appointed as district returning officers.
The meeting was also attended by ECP members Justice (retd) Riaz Kiyani and Justice (retd) Shahzad Akbar Khan.
Meanwhile, speaking to Indian lawyers delegation led by Dr. Pravin H. Parekh President Supreme Court Bar Association of India earlier on Monday, Justice Chaudhry said that the present day Pakistan successfully transitioned itself to rule of law based upon complete implementation of constitutionalism in the country.
“Our law enforcement agencies are striving hard to check this menace and the court system in the country including the Anti Terrorism Courts are geared to handle these cases expeditiously and dispense justice in a forthright and transparent manner,” he added.