Huddle discusses Islamabad LG polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday held a meeting to determine the schedule for the forthcoming local body elections in the federal capital.

Presided over by Sindh Member Nisar Ahmed Durrani, the meeting was attended by ECP members, secretaries, and other senior officials.

During the meeting, the ECP secretary provided an overview and said the primary focus was on finalising the polling date. He said that all necessary preparations on the commission's end have been concluded. However, a specific count of seats requires notification, necessitating further amendments to Section 17 of the Local Government Act.

The home secretary shared details during the briefing and said the prescribed limit for candidates' election expenses had been established, and a summary outlining the specific seat count was prepared.

Notably, on July 26, the cabinet received a summary proposing essential amendments to Section 17 of the Local Body Elections Act. These modifications aim to facilitate the requisite legislative process through the authority of the Parliament. Once enacted, the relevant adjustments will be promptly communicated to the election commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2023.