ECP hints at Islamabad LG elections in Ramazan

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday hinted at holding the local government elections in Islamabad in the holy month of Ramazan.
Following the Islamabad High Court’s directives, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf met the commission's officials. The huddle was also attended by the ECP director general (law) and special secretary.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the IHC’s directions on holding the LG polls in the federal capital.

Sources said the ECP officials hinted at conducting the LG elections in Islamabad during the month of Ramazan.

The officials noted that even in 1997, the general elections were held during Ramazan.

The sources said the ECP would also consult with the interior ministry on the Islamabad LG elections.

Earlier, the court, while hearing the petitions of the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) against the postponing of the LG elections. directed the ECP to hold a meeting with the federal government on Thursday to chalk out a strategy for the polls.
It noted that the commission should give the timeline for the Islamabad LG elections in the hearing on Friday (today).

IHC’s Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who was hearing the pleas, further noted that the court should not be asked to hold the Islamabad LG elections in June 2023.

The court remarked that if it came to the conclusion on Friday that the elections could not be held on December 31, it would look at the ECP's timeline.

The commission clearly told the IHC that according to the old schedule, LG elections could not be held in the federal capital on December 31.

The IHC sought a written response from the AGP and ECP on Friday on the pleas filed by the PTI and JI.

The court also directed the commission to submit to it the details of the expenses incurred so far on the preparation of the LG elections.

It noted that the ECP director general had informed the court that Rs500 million to Rs600 million were spent on the arrangements for the LG polls.

It added that these figures appeared to be faulty and the expenditure could not have exceeded Rs15 million to Rs16 million.

The ECP secretary told the court that even though the ballot papers had been printed, it was impossible to hold the LG elections on December 31 now.

He added that 65 days were required for the delimitation of constituencies after which the election schedule was released.

The AGP informed the court that the record related to 101 union councils was compiled by the previous government.

He added that in June, the necessary notification for the increase in union councils was issued by the present government.

The top legal officer maintained that the pleas were nothing more than ”proxies” as none of the petitioners were contesting the polls.

PTI lawyer Sardar Taimur Aslam said that Ali Nawaz Awan had filed a petition on behalf of his party.

He added that Awan was the affected party.

The court asked the ECP DG (law) whether or not the commission could conduct the Islamabad LG election on December 31.

The ECP DG (law) replied that the elections could not be held on December 31 under any circumstances, justifying his claim on the basis of the delivery of the polls material and new constituencies.

The PTI and JI lawyers contended that until December 27, the commission was claiming that it was ready to conduct the Islamabad LG elections.

They wondered that what happened in a day’s time that the ECP could not hold the polls.

The judge remarked that this was a serious matter.

He added that the court would not allow the taxpayers’ money to be wasted.
Later, the hearing of the case was adjourned till Friday.