KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday observed that there could be no effective and fair representation from different parts of the country without a population census.

Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Bagar, a two-judge bench also noted that it was the obligation of the federal government to conduct the census as prescribed by the law.

The bench was seized with the petition of Dr Muhammed Siddique Rathore, vice president of the Jamiat Ulema Pakistan (JUP), who asl(ed the court to direct the respondents to hold a census of the population of the province before holding the local government elections.

While stressing the need to hold the census in the country, the judges also expressed their dismay over the lethargic attitude of the respondents in filing their respective comments on the petition as the matter had been undecided since last December.

The bench noted: `Allocation of seats and delimitation of the constituencies for the parliament and local bodies can also not be done in a proper fair and effective manner without an up-to-date census.

The court once again dire cte d the Bureau of Statistics, cabinet and interior secretaries and the Sindh chief secretary to file their detailed reports and proposals for conducting the census within the shortest possible time.

The respondents were also directed to submit their respective reports within three weeks with a warning that any attempt to delay the exercise shall not be tolerated and appropriate orders shall certainly be passed against those who may be found indulging in delaying tactics or obstructing the commencement of the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (Population Census Organisation) submitted its comments stating that the bureau was ready to conduct the census,but it needed at least 10 months for making necessary arrangements with the cooperation of the provinces to undertake the exercise.

It was stated that the exercise shall be concluded within such time subject to availability of financial resources as well as the security cover.

The bench observed: `Since the local government elections have been delayed, we, therefore, find that the time suggested for conducting the exercise is far too long.

So far the security cover and financial resources are concerned, the federal government is bound to provide sufficient funds required for the exercise, whereas it is the obligation of the federal government to provide security cover and maintain law and order so that the exercise be conducted safely swiftly and without any interruption.

Contempt case against minister The same bench once against directed Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon to give his response on a petition seeking his disqualification for allegedly giving contemptuous remarks against judges.

The petition was filed by a civil rights campaigner, Rana Faizul Hasan, who asked the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the minister for making the remarks.

The petitioner, who is also the secretary general of the United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, quoted the information minister as saying that the law enforcement agencies personnel risked their lives by arresting terrorists but judges who succumbed to fear and self-interest released them.

He quoted the minister as asking the judges to step down if they lacked the courage to punish the criminals.

The petitioner asked the courttoinitiate proceedings against him for committing contempt of court.