ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday expressed outrage over the delay in the census and hinted at calling Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to court for the delay.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard a suo moto case pertaining to delay in the census.
Remarking on government’s statement that the census was impossible without army’s support, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali quipped that “on the same lines, Election Commission of Pakistan would also seek army’s support for conducting general elections.
He maintained that the government should put forth a final date for census till December 7 otherwise premier Nawaz would be summoned by the court for further clarification as the court was left with no other option.
Throwing weight behind the chief justice, Justice Ameer Hani Muslim said the PM should appear before the court, in case the government fails to finalise any date for the census. He went on and inquired as when it would be feasible for Prime Minister to appear before the apex court.
Before Eidul Fitr, the chief justice had taken suo moto notice of the continuous delay in the population count, which was due to be held in 2008.
