LG polls in cantonments: SC to take up contempt petition against PM on Thursday

The premier has failed to implement the apex court’s order for holding LG elections in Cantonment areas

ISLAMABAD: A contempt petition against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not implementing the court’s order for holding Local Government (LG) elections in Cantonment areas of the country, has been fixed for hearing before the Supreme Court.

A three judge bench of the apex court, headed by chief justice Nasirul Mulk will on Thursday take up the contempt plea, filed by Raja Rub Nawaz.

LG polls have not been held in cantonment areas for the past 15 years.

Earlier, the court had initiated contempt proceedings against Ex Defence Secretary Asif Yasin over the government’s failure to hold local body elections in all 53 cantonment boards by May 5, 2013. Later on, several directives were passed in this regard but the government did not complete its preparation for holding LG polls in cantonment areas.

Meanwhile, the court is also resuming hearing about the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Thursday.

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) office has not submitted a written plea seeking more time regarding the appointment of new CEC. It is thus expected AGP Salman Aslam Butt will orally request the bench for more time to complete the process for appointing a new CEC.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is also due to submit report regarding the holding of LG polls in Khyber-Pakhtunhawa.

A senior official of the commission said that if the K-P government withdraws its demand to hold the LG polls through bio metric system, then the commission was willing to hold elections in the either March or April.