Election Commission provided training to ROs but not taught entire law, Appellate Tribunal

Islamabad: Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the Election Appellate Tribunal has remarked during the hearing of the appeal that the Election Commission provided training to ROs but the entire law was not taught.

During the hearing on applications and appeals related to nomination papers in the Election Appellate Tribunal, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the Islamabad Appellate Tribunal made important remarks regarding ROs. He said that when the returning officers are doing scrutiny, they should be accompanied by a representative of the Election Commission.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said that the returning officers read the 62(9) of the Election Act that they can reject the papers. 62(10) of the Election Act was not read by the ROs. If you read it, you would know how to conduct a conference. The Election Commission did not provide regular support to the ROs. The RO should have been accompanied by a representative of the commission.

The lawyer of the Election Commission said during the hearing that training was provided to ROs earlier, on which Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said that training was provided but the entire law was not taught. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said that Mr. RO, you have also given references to court decisions in your orders. In some orders, several court references were given, there were quite detailed orders. The judgments you referred to, were they read in full?

The returning officer replied that he had read the relevant part of the court decision, upon which Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir inquired that you have passed other decisions of the Supreme Court? , on which the Returning Officer remained silent.