ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the government to resume the much delayed population census in the country by March 15 next year, Aaj News reported. 

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the case. Chief Justice Jamali in suo moto hearing pertaining to delay in census ordered the government to initiate the census process by March 15 in 2017 to complete it within two months.

CJ expressed disappointment over the government inaction regarding census and warned that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be in court for clarification if the population census date not finalized by December 07. A joke out of the country was being made by delaying the census, he remarked.

The government does not have fair intentions, in fact the status quo suits all political parties, the CJ said in its remarks.

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. Moreover, the Chief Justice asked the government to submit a written assurance that the census will begin of March 15 and end on May 15.

Later, the Supreme court adjourned the case hearing till December 7.