The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) suspended the Transfer order of former CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mehmood Dogar by forwarding the matter to another bench of the apex court.
A three-member bench of the court headed by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan took up Ghulam Mehmood Dogar’s plea against the December 2022 decision of the Federal Service Tribunal (FST).
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On Thursday, Justice Ahsan heard the case and directed the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to provide all the records and evidence regarding Dogar’s transfer.
Ghulam Mehmood Dogar was removed by Caretaker Chief Minister and replaced with Bilal Siddique Kamyana.
Today’s Hearing
During today’s hearing, Justice Ahsan asked where is the chief election commissioner.
At this, the Election Commission’s Secretary Umar Hameed replied that Chief Election Commissioner’s health is unwell and hence, could not appear before the court.
He informed the court that asked to transfer former CCPO Lahore Ghulam Dogar via verbal communication. The written application was received on 24th January and the application was accepted on 6th February.
Justice Muneeb asked to do verbal applications are accepted in routine cases as well. Justice Ijaz ul Hassan said the verbal application was accepted first and then the written process was carried out. Do official decisions are taken verbally?
He further said that only ECP can issue transfer orders, not the chief election commissioner. Is there any document or proof that the ECP has given the authority to CEC?
At this, the DG Election Commission of Pakistan said there is no documented proof of this.
The judge remarked that elections are to be held in 90 days and with every passing day, the 90-day limit is ending.
On January 26, the commission just issued a verbal order, according to which everyone from secretary to peon was reshuffled in Punjab, observed Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan.
“What the ECP is actually doing?” asked Justice Akhtar. The judge also got infuriated over the consistent interruption by the ECP’s secretary and cautioned him.
I know the basic law, responded Hameed.
At this, Justice Ahsan said that by knowing basic law you would not be called a lawyer.
“What was the hurry to issue verbal orders?” Justice Akhtar asked.
The only duty of the ECP is to conduct elections, said Justice Ahsan. Meanwhile, the bench also rejected a petition regarding the polls not being conducted within 90 days.
Remember that the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) summoned the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) again over the former CCPO Lahore transfer. The Punjab government lawyer told the supreme court that the former CCPO Lahore was transferred with ECP’s permission.
It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government on 23 January suspended Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, a day after Governor House came under attack and appointed Bilal Siddique Kamyana as the new CCPO Lahore.
