Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) is conducting hearing on the presidential reference filed for the open ballot voting in the upcoming Senate elections.

According to the details, after the completion of arguments by all the advocate generals, in todays hearing; lawyers of the political parties are presenting their explanations.

A five-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed is hearing the presidential reference seeking the court’s advice over open ballot in the upcoming Senate election.

During Thursday’s hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed in his remarks said that, “Article 59 of the constitution is related to the Senate and it has no reference for secret ballot. The constitution is itself a political document and when the court interpret the constitution, it performs a political job.”

He remarked that, “Nothing could be said whether the open ballot will end the horse trading or not,” the chief justice remarked.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the President Dr Arif Alvi on February 6 had signed Elections (Amendment) ordinance 2021 that would pave way for the organization of Senate elections through the open ballot.

According to the Ordinance, a copy of which available with ARY News, changes had been brought to Sections 81, 122 and 185 of the Constitution.