Now, Pak EC warns Supreme Court's 'overreach can create anarchy in country'

Islamabad, Jan 24 (ANI): Amid a situation wherein the Pakistan Army, government and the Supreme Court are locked in tense standoffs, the country's Election Commission has also jumped into the fray by slamming the Supreme Court's stay order on the upcoming by-elections, saying that the imbalance of powers could lead to "anarchy in the country."

Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner Hamid Ali Mirza said that the apex court's stay order on the upcoming by-elections is unconstitutional because as per the norms of the constitution, by-elections should be held on seats that fall vacant, within 60 days.

He further asserted that under the Electoral Rolls Act 1974, only the Election Commission possesses the right to prepare the electoral rolls.

"It is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission. We will prepare the electoral rolls as we deem fit," he said, adding if an inaccurate electoral roll was prepared on the direction of "some other quarter", the responsibility would not lie with the Election Commission.

Informing that this had happened in 2007 when 37 million unverified entries had to be made in the electoral rolls because the commission was given just one month to complete the process, Mirza said that an undue haste in preparing computerised electoral rolls may lead to repeat of the mistakes committed in 2007.

"Any attempt by any organ of the state to disturb the balance of powers would lead to anarchy in the country," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Mirza also said it was impossible to follow the February 23 deadline set by the court for finalisation of the electoral polls.

"If any other institution of the state is to hold elections...then the right course is to make amendment in the constitution, otherwise it would be violation of the constitution," he added. (ANI)