The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should start a mechanism to carry out house-to-house verification of electoral rolls.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the Workers Party’s constitutional petition, seeking limited expenditures by the political parties during the elections. Other members of the bench comprised Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez.
The court ruled that the ECP should be strict in its implementation of laws pertaining to elections as well as monitor the expenses of political parties and other candidates on campaigns.
The ECP is mandated to play its role in order to administer free and fair elections in the country, the ruling said.
No polling station should be farther than two kilometres from a voter’s residence, the court ruled, adding that candidates would not be allowed to use private transportation for voters. The ruling added that transportation for voters should be provided by the caretaker government at the time.
Candidates in elections would not be allowed to establish camp offices near polling stations, the ruling said, adding that the candidates would also have to produce an account of the expenses incurred for transportation and other facilities.
The court ruled that only one bank account number should be taken from the candidates in their details.
The court, in its order, stated that every political party has the right to take part in elections and to try to become a part of government under Article 17. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission (EC) to make sure that the parties strictly follow the election rules.
The EC has the constitutional mandate that the elections are conducted according to the set rules, the order said.
For the sake of democracy, it is pertinent that every candidate should get the chance to take part in elections as every elected representative comes to power through democratic process.