ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday asked the Election Commission of Paksitan to give a date for local government elections in Islamabad.

IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz was hearing the appeals filed by the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the decision of single member bench for holding the LG elections in less than 24 hours.

The court had summoned an interior ministry officer and Director General Law of the ECP Mohammad Arshad sought their his categorical statement regarding local government (LG) elections.

Additional attorney general Amir Rehman and Munawar Iqbal Duggal, advocate general Islamabad Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Noorul Amin Mengal appeared before the court.

Rehman argued before the court that the joint session of the Parliament has passed the bill to increase the Union Councils (UCs) of Islamabad and it will become the law on Feb 25 even if the President would not accord his assent.

Justice Farooq remarked that the new amendment also empowered the federal government to increase the UCs and there should be a fine line regarding the timing of making such increase as the LG elections have been delayed on the pretext of enhanced number of UCs.

Rehman replied that the federal government had approved a summary to increase the UCs and the ECP was now under obligation to revise delimitation of the UCs.

Director General Law of the ECP Mohammad Arshad said the ECP would complete the new delimitation in 60 days.

The court directed him to give a date for the next LG elections.

Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till March 2.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2023