Justice Qazi Faez Isa, during the hearing of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday, advised the chief election commissioner (CEC) to “step down from your post if you cannot organise the elections.”
The above was said when the SC expressed displeasure over the delay in the schedule of local body elections to be held in the provinces from the Election Commission (ECP).
The attorney general of Pakistan (AGP), the CEC, and other officials of ECP were present during the hearing after having been summoned by the top court.
Justice Isa, referring to Article 6 of the Constitution, said, “those creating hurdles in the Constitution’s implementation are committing high treason”. He further added that by not properly organising the by-elections, the ECP is not following the orders of the apex court.
The SC judge said that the attorney general should tell the prime minister that “Constitution is more important.”
Responding, the CEC pledged to organise local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on April 8.
The hearing was adjourned until February 4.