ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected federal government’s arguments and reasons and directed it to announce a final date to hold population census in the country.
The apex court issued warning to the Prime Minister that he can be summoned if the government failed to abide by the orders.
During Thursday’s suo motu proceedings on delays in holding a population census, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that ‘Mr. Prime Minister should himself appear in the court if a final date is not announced.’
The court said the government has no other option but to hold the census. The bench observed that government’s intension is mala fide regarding the population census issue.
A five-member bench of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali was hearing a suo motu case over delays in holding a census in the country.
In his remarks the Chief Justice said the government does not have fair intentions, in fact the status quo suits all political parties.
The apex court said that the government should give a final date for the census by December 7; otherwise the court will summon the prime minister.
The Supreme Court directed the government to hold population census from March 15, next year.
The Chief justice also emphasised that democratic system highly depends upon population census however; if it is not held then election would be nothing but a joke.
‘There is vast difference between 1998 and today’s population. Policies are being made without having any record of the exact number of people in the country,’ he said.
Justice Ameer Hani Muslim asked Attorney General: ‘When can the Prime Minister present himself before the court?’
The last census was carried out in 1998 when the population was counted at 132 million people. INP
