Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan talking about the Supreme Court of Pakistan opinion about secret or open balloting in Senate polls termed the verdict ‘historic’, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
AGP welcomed the SCP decision and said, “Now it is Election Commission of Pakistan’s responsibility to implement court opinion in the March 3 elections.”
The Attorney General welcomes the court's opinion that ballot secrecy is not permanent, Attorney General. He said the court has clearly asked the Election Commission to use technology in the March 3 Senate election.
Khalid Jawed said the ECP has not yet printed the ballot papers. “The ECB can make the ballot papers identifiable for the Senate election,” he said.
The Attorney General of Pakistan said the Senate Election Amendment Ordinance has now expired.
PPP Latif Khosa reacting to the SC opinion said, “This ordinance would have not been filed in the Supreme Court after they have legal experts like Minister for Law and Attorney General of Pakistan.”
Former Punjab Governor Latif Khosa asked ECP to ensure free and fair Senate elections.
He further said, “The ECP will now have to decide what will be the method when a citizen wants to know about the senate balloting.”
On the other hand, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) former President Amanullah Kanrani said SC gave an opinion on the Presidential reference and it is not binding and it is the opinion of the apex court.
While PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said SC clearly gave its opinion on the secret balloting and termed it as per the law.
“We have repeatedly said for the electoral reform package and we have done much work but the PTI government doesn't want to do the reform,” Sherry Rehman said.