Polls scheduled for Dec 31 were deferred following change in UCs.
ECP postpones local government elections in Islamabad. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday postponed the local government elections scheduled for December 31 in Islamabad following a change in the union councils of the federal capital.
A five-member bench had reserved the verdict earlier in the day after arguments were concluded in the case.
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.
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“The Islamabad 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.
