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ISLAMABAD: The National Election Authority has dismissed as illegal the federal government’s decision to increase the number of union councils (UCs) from 101 to 125 in the capital city of Islamabad (ICT), indicating that the ICT local government elections will be held. December 31 will be the announced date under existing arrangements.
The number of ICT UCs has been increased from 101 to 125 under Sections 4(1) and 6(1) of the Islamabad Metropolitan Local Government Act, 2015, the Ministry of Interior announced on Monday.
The move has been strongly criticized by various political and public circles and has been seen as a move to delay the LG polls in view of the growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has won the recent polls. assemblies.
Section 4(1) provides that the government shall, by notification, designate a locality as a UC under the ICT jurisdiction.
Section 6(1) states that the government shall determine the number of UCs under ICT by notification in the official gazette.
But in an order issued on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the notification issued by the federal government on Monday under Article 140A (2) and Article 218 (3) of the Constitution of Pakistan, as well as other relevant laws. Violation of Section 4 (4) of the Islamabad Metropolitan Local Government Act, 2015.
The four-member ECP, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Nisar Ahmed Durrani and former judge Ikramullah Khan, delivered the verdict.
Section 4(4) restricts the government from changing the local limits of ICT after announcing the LG election schedule.
Article 140, Clause 2 of the Constitution stipulates that the EH shall conduct the election of the Government.
Article 218, paragraph 3 states that it is the responsibility of the EU to organize and conduct elections and conduct voting “fairly, fairly, impartially and in accordance with the law, and to prevent corruption.”
In October this year, the ECP released the LG poll schedule for 101 ICT UCs. Earlier, ECP had fixed the date of ICT election as December 24 but later on December 24 was changed to December 31 due to reports of involvement of some senior ECP officials. changed.
Meanwhile, the electoral body on Tuesday upheld its decision in a case seeking the removal of PTI chief Imran Khan as the party chief following his expulsion from the EC in the Toshahana case.
Copyright Business Writer, 2022
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