Polls for reserved seats: ECP likely to release procedure tomorrow

Islamabad local government act silent on procedure to fill 16 reserved seats

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to release procedure for election on reserved seats of the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation on Tuesday.

The hurriedly prepared Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government Act 2015 does not speak about procedure involving selection of members on 16 reserved seats.

“The ECP will notify procedure under sub-section (2) of Section 17 of the ICT Local Government Act 2015,” said an ECP spokesperson on Sunday.

“The ECP may, by order in the Official Gazette, make provisions for the conduct of local government elections if no provisions or no sufficient provisions have been made under this Act or the rules,” he quoted the section as saying.

Notification of rules, the spokesperson said, would be followed by the announcement of election schedule on reserved seats.

Polling for the local government elections in the capital was held on November 30, in which residents directly elected 50 union council (UC) chairpersons, who will be members of the metropolitan corporation.

In the second phase, they will elect another 16 members — nine women, one technocrat, two non-Muslims, two youth members, and two worker members -- on reserved seats. In the third phase, the 66-member MC will elect a mayor and three deputy mayors.

The local government act provides that the first meeting of the local government should be held not later than 30 days after the members are notified.

Contest for mayor not a dead rubber: PTI

Although the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) hopes for a comfortable win for party’s mayoral candidate, the PTI has announced it will “actively” contest for the top slot.

Names of Ali Nawaz Awan and Raja Khurram Nawaz have been circulating as potential PTI candidates for the mayorship.

Awan was elected chairman from UC-40. Khurram Nawaz, general secretary, PTI Islamabad region, is another aspirant for nomination for mayor slot.

Of 50 union councils, PML-N won 20, the PTI, 16 and independents 14. Nine independents have already announced to join the ruling party, while two announced to support the PTI.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th,  2015.