The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday set aside the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to reject the federal government’s notification to increase the number of union councils.
The court also ordered the election body to reconsider after hearing the respondents by December 27. On the other hand, the issue of making changes to the list of voters should be discussed on December 28.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard similar application about increasing the number of union councils and changing the voter list.
The Election Commission had earlier rejected the government’s announcement of increasing trade union councils in the federal capital. In response, the Center approached the court challenging the order.
When local elections are about to take place December 31The federal government earlier this week approved a review to increase the number of union councils in the federal capital from the existing 101 to 125.
Briefly, Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation Administrator or Deputy Commissioner said that the current number of union councils is 101 as per census 2017.
However, since the population of Islamabad has increased to 205 million in the last five years, the number of union councils should be increased to 125.
Sections 4 (1) and 6 (1) of the Islamabad Metropolitan Local Government Act, 2015, said a notification published in the official gazette empowered the federal government to determine the number of trade union councils in Islamabad.
However, after that, the Election Commission issued an order to continue the process of holding local government elections in the Federal Capital and increased the number of union councils in violation of relevant laws.
In its two-page order, it said the action was taken without the permission of the Election Commission under Section 4 (4) of the Islamabad Metropolitan Local Government Act, 2015.
Now, the commission is reading provisions that are in accordance with the law while exercising its mandate under Articles 140-2, 218-3, 219-d, and 220 of the Constitution, the ECA said in its order. , it was decided to continue the election activities within the specified period.
On the orders of the ECP, the government passed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2022 a day ago and it was also passed by the Senate today.