The local government elections in the federal capital are likely to be held, as planned, on Nov 30 after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed petitions challenging the delimitation of union councils (UCs). Petitioners had asked the court to ensure that the delimitation was in line with the 1998 census. Dawn spoke to Islamabad Bar Council Vice Chairman Shoaib Shaheen to understand exactly what the petitioners were asking for and how the court’s decision would have impacted the elections.

Q: What would have been different if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had delimited councils in accordance with the 1998 census?

A: The 1998 census is over 18 years old now. Since then, the rural population has increased and the total population is also far greater than it was then.

After 9/11 and the subsequent wave of terrorism in Khyber Paktunkhwa and rising crime in Karachi, people migrated from these cities to Islamabad and settled in the suburbs of the federal capital.

The rapid growth of housing societies along the expressway in the east, around the new airport in the west and Bhara Kahu in the north, contributed towards the rural population. Had the delimitation officer delimited the union councils in accordance with the 1998 census, it would not be in accordance with the ground realities.

Q: Don’t you think the census of 1998 could be a guideline for delimitation?

A: While one cannot deny the importance or significance of that census, it should not be considered more than a guideline. The basis for the delimitation was the Islamabad Local Government Act, 2015, Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974 and the voter data available with the ECP.

While the delimitation authority can use that census as a point of comparison, it should not be used as a yardstick for drawing the boundaries of the 50 union councils of the federal capital. The delimitation officer, however, may have used the figures of census more closely had it been carried out recently.

Q: Do you think the delimitation of UCs in Islamabad was done in ample time? And how long does it take if delimitation is done afresh?

A: As far as I know, the delimitation process did not take more than a couple of months. Admittedly, it was done in a haphazard manner since neither the government nor ECP were ready to hold local government elections. It was the Supreme Court that directed both to conduct elections. Subsequently, most of the delimitation exercise was completed from the comfort of air-conditioned offices.

Ideally, a delimitation officer would take at least five to six months to complete such an exercise.

He is required to visit the UCs and hold meetings with the elders. After delimitation, reasonable time should be given to the disposal of appeals against the boundaries of the constituencies.

Since the exercise is being done for the first time in the urban areas of Islamabad, one should expect errors and omissions. But the procedure is evolving and these lapses can be rectified in the future.

Published in Dawn October 29th, 2015

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