Islamabad LG polls being delayed due to govt's non-cooperation: ECP

Commission drafts letter to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, citing reservations over the new Elections Act

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday has said that the local body elections in Islamabad were being delayed due to the federal government’s non-cooperation.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the case against the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance 2021 earlier today.

During the hearing, the electoral watchdog’s lawyer told the court that the LG polls were being delayed due to the government’s non-cooperation in providing data and maps, citing that when federal institutions are called upon, most of them are unavailable.

Read: ‘Article 222’ prohibits diluting ECP powers

“The ECP then has to resort to collecting data by itself,” the lawyer claimed.

“Are you saying that the federal government is not taking interest in the polls,” questioned Justice Kayani.

In his response, the assistant attorney general stated that the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance 2021 has been presented before a parliamentary committee to formalise it.

To which, the court maintained that it could do its job on local body polls under the Election Commission Act.

Justice Kayani also said the Supreme Court had previously ordered the federal and provincial governments to hold local body elections but both the home secretary and the chief election commissioner (CEC) had failed to fulfil their responsibilities.

Read More: ECP barred from holding LG polls in capital

Subsequently, the IHC extended the stay order in the Islamabad LG polls under the ordinance till March 8 and summoned the home secretary and the CEC for the next hearing.

ECP drafts letter

Separately, the ECP further expressing reservations against the Elections Act Amendment Ordinance promulgated by the government last month drafted a letter to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Due to its reservations over the new ordinance which allows lawmakers to visit or address public meetings in any area or constituency during the election campaign., the commission requested the ministry to take up the matter with the federal government.

In its letter, the ECP urged the government to reconsider the amendment, stating that the preparation and modification of the code of conduct is the prerogative of the electoral body.