ECP all set to announce final delimitation of Islamabad

Number of union councils in federal capital jumps to 101

RAWALPINDI:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will on Friday publicise the new delimitation of constituencies in the federal capital ahead of the local government elections.

Sources said that the number of union councils in Islamabad had been increased from 50 to 101. The ECP will issue a notification regarding the new 101 union councils of Islamabad today.

After the publication of the final delimitation list, local government elections in the federal capital will be held in September. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Pakistan People's Party, the Muslim League-N, the Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties have lent their support to increase the number of union councils in Islamabad.

Earlier, Regional Election Commissioner Rawalpindi Aleem Shahab heard the objections filed by political parties, independent candidates and citizens of Islamabad against the new constituencies. According to the appellate authority, a total of 165 objections were filed against new union councils, of which 60 objections were rejected, 94 were accepted and 11 were partially accepted and the decision was pronounced on these objections.

Sources said that the appellate authority has also sent its complete report to the ECP after disposing of objections. Sources also said that a total of 11 stakeholders have also announced to challenge the appellate authority's decision in the Islamabad High Court.

Most of the objections were filed by candidates from suburban areas of Islamabad. These included union councils of Bari Imam, Noorpur Shahan, Bhara Kahu, Alipur, Frash, Sihala, Golra Sharif, Nilore, SangJani, Sohan, Terlai and Rawat.

A large number of candidates had challenged the division of union councils, wards and blocks into two and three union councils. They were of the opinion that the blocks should not be separated and segregated in constituencies. They said that this division will affect the election campaign and also disrupt the development works. A candidate will have to carry out development work in half of the street falling in one constituency while leaving the remaining half street without work, they said.

The appellate authority conducted a detailed hearing of these objections for 10 days. The commission also expressed satisfaction over the progress on constituencies’ delimitation. It said that all work had been completed on merit and according to the schedule prescribed by the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2022.