ISLAMABAD (HRNW) The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is making preparations to hold the Local Government elections in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) this week.
Sources revealed the ECP is gearing up to conduct the polls this week and has issued directives to transfer the election material to the polling stations on an emergency basis.
The Returning Officers (RO) have been instructed to make arrangements for election materials and staff. The final date for conducting the polls will be announced soon, sources further added.
The election commission was unable to hold the polls on Saturday, December 31, despite the directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
President Dr Arif Alvi has returned a bill seeking an increase in the number of union councils in Islamabad, stating it would further delay the Local Government elections.
The president returned the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2022 unsigned in terms of clause (1) (b) of Article 75 of the Constitution.
“Actions of the Federal Government taken in hurry on resulted in delaying election process twice, which was anathema to democracy,” the president was quoted as saying.
The ECP filed an intra-court appeal against the court’s verdict for its inability to conduct the polls within such short notice. The court will hear the appeal this week as well.