LG polls hearing: Rules to be framed in seven days, AGP assures court

Supreme Court justice says federal government can take help from provinces

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a report from the federal government about the framing of rules for holding the local government (LG) elections in the federal capital.

The two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Dost Muhammad was hearing the case related to the LG polls in Islamabad.

During the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Salman Butt informed the bench that after the Senate, the National Assembly has also passed the LG bill. He said the summary is scheduled to be sent to the President today (Monday) and hopefully by tomorrow (Tuesday) he would sign the law after which it would become an Act of Parliament.

The AGP, submitting a copy of the law before the court, apprised that according to section 17 of the bill, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been empowered to hold elections in the capital, adding that now the ECP could commence the election process in Islamabad.

However, ECP Director General (Legal) Muhammad Arshad informed that the federal government still had not framed the rules for elections, as without them the elections could not be held in the city. The AGP said that the rules would be framed within seven days.

Arshad contended that for printing of ballot papers and making other arrangements, ECP needed some time. Hearing that, Justice Khawaja expressed anger and remarked if the rules are not framed in 25 years then it means the ECP would not hold elections in Islamabad.

The bench observed that for the last 25 years the citizens of Islamabad have been deprived of their constitutional rights. He further said that after holding of LG polls so many local issues can be solved at the union council level, saying they failed to understand why hindrances have been created in holding the LG elections.

Earlier during the proceeding, Justice Dost remarked that the federal government could take assistance from the local government elections rules of all the four provincial governments as they have framed the rules. The judge observed that the first stage of election is setting up of an election tribunal, and inquired from the Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman, who was present in the court, whether any step has been taken in this regard.

When Rehman could not give a satisfactory reply, the bench then summoned the AGP. The hearing was adjourned till August 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2015.