- A five-member larger bench announced its reserved opinion in courtroom number 1.
- “We have nothing to do with politics but are going to interpret the Constitution,” the chief justice had said during the last hearing.
- The president had sought the opinion of the apex court regarding the holding of Senate polls through an open ballot.
ISLAMABAD: As political parties remain engaged in intense campaigning for the Senate polls, the Supreme Court on Monday opined that the polling for the Senate elections can not be held through an open ballot.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court — headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed and comprising justices Mushir Alam, Umar Ata Bandial, Ijazul Ahsan and Yahya Afridi — announced the reserved opinion in the open court with 4-1 majority.
The apex court ruled that the Election Commission is empowered to take all the steps to ensure transparency in the polls.
“It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to end corrupt practices from the electoral process and it can utilise the technology in this regard,” the short order stated.
The apex court further said that it is up to the ECP to decide to which extent the voting should remain secret.
The court had reserved its opinion last week after all the parties had concluded their arguments and after the rebuttal of Attorney-General Khalid Javed. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed had observed that the court will give its opinion by interpreting the provisions of the Constitution.