ISLAMABAD: On the issue of fake degree Election Commission of
Pakistan and the parliament are once again on collision path as ECP
declares the privilege motion of the five members of the senate
belonging to PML-N, Q, PPP and ANP as against the law and rules.
The
ECP defending its decision in a 6 page response given to the Senate
Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges adopted the
stance that in the matter of verification of degrees of Senators Waseem
Sajjad, Ishaque Dar, Babar Awan, Afriysab Khattak and Nilofar Bakhtiar
were done in accordance to the decision of Supreme Court.
The
ECP was of the stance that apart from the direction of SC the
constitution of Islamic Republic Of Pakistan, Representation of People
Act 1976 and the election audit 2002 authorises the ECP to go into the
issues of degree of Parliamentarians and MPAs even at the level of
union council Nazim and Naib Nazim. ECP further said that that the
privilege cannot be claimed against the legal action initiated under
the constitution, the law and orders of SCP.
Besides it would
also be tantamount to stop operation of legal mechanism and
interference in the working of the various depts., of the government
and the state. ECP further said that if the action taken by the EC
under the constitution and law as well as order of the SC is taken as
the breach of the privilege of a member of parliament or provincial
assembly. It would amount to seizing the operation of constitution and
law and hindering implementation of the directions of the SC.
If
an occasion arises the ECP would also bring the matter to the notice of
the SC for guidance and appropriate orders. The appropriate steps on
the part of the members of the parliament and provincial assembly would
have to complete their dossiers and submit the requisite documents to
the HEC to clarify the situation regarding fake invalid bachelor
degrees that became a point of legal, constitutional and moral
controversy.
Instead of privilege motion it would be more
appropriate that the requisite information is provided to the HEC
enabling the EC to accomplish its task appointed to it. ECP further
clarified that ECP is an independent constitutional body that always
maintained its impartial position and never issued any statement
without solid ground that might cause damage to the reputation of MPs
or MPAS. Finally no effort should be made by anyone to stop the ECP
from performing its function as enshrined in the constitution mandated
by the law and ordered by the Supreme Court.
Rather all organs
of the state should strengthen the ECP in performing the aforementioned
constitutional and legal obligations. ECP cleared that any effort by
any quarter to pressurise the ECP or to make subordinate to anyone
would not only be violation of the constitution and ruling of SC as
already culminated by the ECP it would also be an attempt to compromise
independence and autonomy of ECP which certainly is against the public
interest. Online
