ECP gives secretary interior 10 days for details on Islamabad LG polls

ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the secretary interior 10 days to provide the Commission with all the relevant details for holding the Local Government elections in capital.

A two-member bench of ECP while hearing the case related to LG in Islamabad asked secretary interior to take all the measures for holding the LG elections in Islamabad.

During the hearing the secretary interior took the stance that they needed time for relevant legislations, on which the ECP showed its annoyance and said that the tenure of LG had already expired in Islamabad on February 14, 2021 and it was the constitutional duty of ECP to hold elections on time.

The ECP warned that if the federal government failed to fulfil its constitutional duty, then Commission itself will announce the date for LG polls on the already provided details of 50 union councils.

It must be noted that the ECP earlier had summoned secretary interior and commissioner Islamabad to seek explanation about withdrawal of written statement by ministry of interior regarding establishment of 50 union councils in Islamabad. 

The ECP was earlier informed that the ministry of interior through a symbolic written statement on May 18 had asked ECP to establish a total of 50 union councils in Islamabad. 

The high ups of ECP were further informed that following the written statement of the ministry, the ECP issued schedule for delimitation on June 21, this year, however, the ministry once again withdrew its written statement on July 6, which halted the entire process of ECP regarding the new delimitation in capital. 

In his explanation, Secretary Interior had told ECP that after the publication of latest census, the population of Islamabad had increased. 

He said that in order to give realistic representation to masses, one union council was recommended for every 20,000 population. 

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/11-Nov-2021/ecp-gives-secretary-interior-10-days-for-details-on-islamabad-lg-polls