The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday ordered that long-delayed local government elections in Islamabad be held under the existing Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015, and directed that the election schedule be issued the same day, The Express Tribune reported.
'It appears the government does not want elections'
A five-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued the short order after hearing the interior secretary and ECP officials. The CEC remarked that it appeared the government did not want to hold local elections in the capital, and said the commission was being compelled to order the polls because the Constitution requires them.
He noted that the interior minister, interior secretary, Islamabad chief commissioner and a committee of ministers had all previously given assurances that the elections would be held.
Six delimitations, four schedules
ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Malik told the hearing that delimitation in Islamabad had been carried out six times and election schedules issued four times. The last election programme was issued on October 9, and the final delimitation was published on October 14.
The commission was told that the government's presidential ordinance had expired on September 6 and that no new local government law had been introduced. The special secretary said the law ministry had refused to approve the local government rules, so the 2015 law remained in force.
Interior ministry's objection
The interior secretary accepted the facts presented by the ECP but argued that proceeding under the 2015 law would mean scrapping the work done so far. The CEC replied that holding elections under the existing law would not affect the delimitation of constituencies.
Article 140-A of the Constitution requires local government systems to be established by law, with political, administrative and financial authority devolved to elected local representatives.