ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Attorney General for Pakistan to submit timeframe for fresh population census.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jalami heard the suo motu case regarding delay in holding of population census in the country.
During the course of proceedings, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali appeared before the court and informed that the exercise to hold population census will start in March or April next year.
During the previous hearing on Thursday, the court had asked the government to submit a clear cut schedule for holding census in the country which is a constitutional requirement.
Attorney General for Pakistan told the court that the census could not be carried out due to unavailability of Armed forces for the exercise. He informed the court that in March next year the process would be started. However, the court while terming the date given by the government just a formality rejected it.
The Chief Justice remarked that holding census was a constitution requirement which was not being met.
He said that on one had there was excessive talks about strengthening civilian institutions while on the other hand for each and every emergency Army was called in.
Shut down Pakistan Bureau of Statistics if this organization lacks the ability to hold census, he added.
He remarked If military is supposed to fulfil every task, close all other institutions.
Justice Jamali remarked that if the decisions of the apex court were not implemented then the SC should be closed down. He remarked that the government must tell the apex court in plain words that holding of population census was out of its capacity.
He remarked that not a single political party in the country has strived to dent the status quo.
Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked that the government must amend the commutation to abolish the provisions for holding census.
The court directed the AGP to inform it about new date of population census after consulting the government by December.
The court adjourned further hearing of the case till December 1.
