Cantonment Board case: Defence secretary to be indicted on Nov 4

ISLAMABAD: Defence Secretary, Asif Yasin Malik will be indicted on November 4 for failing to hold the Local Bodies elections in Cantonment Boards despite repeated court orders, Geo New reported on Friday.

A three member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the case here.

During the hearing, Chief Justice said that the rule of law would be ensured at any cost and no one would be allowed to play with the court order. He said the Defence Secretary should have come today along with the election schedule and added such laxity was unacceptable. He reiterated that elections be held in Cantonment Board otherwise not a single penny would be allowed to be spent.

The Chief Justice said that the court had issued orders on the assurance of Defence Secretary.

The lawyer for the Defence Secretary, Iftikhar Gilani made the plea that many explanations could be given for the delay, but he would not like to give any explanation.

Chief Justice said the situation remains standstill where it was 15 years ago. Defence Secretary was responsible for whatever violation of order being committed.

Attorney General Munir A. Malik endorsing the Chief Justice said that the court order has been violated and added amendments in election laws were being made, the prime minister has formed a committee, which was working and prayed to the court to give some more time.

Chief Justice said those who could not do anything in 14 years, if given another 14 years would not be able to do anything.