ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (EW): – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday postponed the local government elections scheduled for December 31 in Islamabad.
The announcement came following a change in the union councils of the federal capital. The Commission announced the decsion regarding local bodies elections and cancelled the schedule.
A five-member bench of the Election Commission heard the case related to the local body elections in Islamabad on the orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon and former Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf represented the government, Babar Awan and Ali Nawaz Awan represented the PTI, while Mian Aslam appeared before the ECP on behalf of the JI.
During today’s hearing, former attorney general Ashtar Ausaf, who is representing the federal government in the case, told the bench that the union councils were increased in Islamabad based on the increase in population.
At this, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja asked whether the census report had been published.
Ausaf told the bench that the census bureau had informed about the increase in Islamabad’s population, adding that the ECP must look at the increase in population.
“TheIslamabad High Court (IHC) also recognised the increase in population but authorised the Election Commission to take the final decision after listening to the government’s point of view,” Ausaf told the bench.
“In the past, even after the schedule was released, elections were postponed. The Election Commission has to decide according to the constitution and the law,” said Ausaf, adding that the ECP cannot deprive citizens of their fundamental rights.
The lawyer also told the bench that the Parliament has passed the legislation increasing the number of union councils, adding that ECP must conduct delimitation in Islamabad in light of the new law.
Meanwhile, a member of the ECP wondered why there was a sudden increase in the population in six months.
The lawyer informed that the government reviewed NADRA’s data.
However, CEC Raja said that the delimitation of constituencies was done for Islamabad twice. He also gave the example of Punjab where the exercise was done twice and is now being done for the third time.
“Why did the government not realise at the right time to increase the UCs,” asked CEC Raja. He added that UCs were increased once the election schedule was issued, saying that the government has put the electoral body in a difficult situation.
“If a mistake is made then the commission should provide assistance,” responded Ausaf. However, CEC Raja reminded the counsel that a mistake is made once not again and again.
“In Article 148 of the Constitution, it is written that elections are to be conducted according to the local law. Now, if that law is changed, then what should be done? There should be legislation binding the authorities to hold elections held on time,” remarked CEC. He added that the ECP also faced resistance in provinces over the local government elections.
Meanwhile, Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan, a member of the bench, remarked that general elections are also supposed to be held, and wondered what would happen to the future of local body elections.
On the other hand, CEC Raja said that the ECP fears that the government may change the UCs again, adding that the government has to stop this at some point.
On this, Ausaf assured the ECP bench that there will be no changes in the law and wrapped up his arguments.
