The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to prepare voters lists by Feburary 23, 2012 in any case.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the petition moved by chairman Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan regarding removal of fake votes. The bench directed the ECP to prepare lists even if it has to hire 25,000 people.

The court had earlier asked the ECP to submit reports regarding the voters lists today.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the state of affairs, the CJP said preparation of voters lists was deliberately delayed and the court will have to take action against the Secretary ECP.

The ECP noted in its report that the governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtwnkha had sent resolutions demanding delay in lists while floods in Sindh also added to it.

The CJP observed that only six districts of Sindh were affected by the floods and demanded the resolutions be presented before the court.

During the proceedings, Justice Tariq asked if the polls are held in March, would they be on bogus lists and the government would be formed with 44% bogus votes.