ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday gave provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh till October 30 to complete legislation to authorise the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out delimitation process.
The three judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk was hearing a case relating to local government elections on Monday.
During the course of hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Asam Butt informed the court that the federal government has issued two Ordinances about the matter.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) Punjab Razaq A Mirza submitted that an ordinance has been issued which will be tabled before the Provincial Assembly on Monday.
Similarly, AAG Sindh Mir Qasim informed the court that a bill has already been tabled in the Provincial Assembly.
Later on Monday, the Sindh Assembly passed a law to handover delimitation powers of union councils to the election commission.
LG elections in K-P
The three member bench also sought reports form ECP and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government in a month regarding steps taken for holding local body elections in the province.
Muhammad Akram Sheikh, counsel for ECP submitted that the poll body would require at least five months for making the required preparation as well as arrangement for biometric systems to hold polls in K-P.
The counsel further informed the court that a meeting had been held between ECP and the provincial authorities to ensure local bodies elections in the province.
Sheikh further contended that the commission will not be able to complete the delimitation process for LG elections in Sindh and Punjab in 45 days, suggesting that the poll body would require at least six months.
The court observed that the ECP’s plea for deferment of local body polls in K-P would be heard once Sindh and Punjab completes legislation.
The hearing of the case was then adjourned until October 30.
When the bench reconvenes on October 30, it is will also take up the matter of a permanent Chief Election Commissioner being appointed.
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