ISLAMABAD: After its failure to hold local government polls in the federal capital following the expiry of its term on February 14, 2021, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to carry out delimitation of constituencies for the much-delayed electoral exercise for the fifth time.

An important meeting of the ECP held with Sikandar Sultan Raja in the chair on Wednesday expressed disappointment over delay in local government elections in the federal capital, saying that frequent changes to the LG Act was used by successive governments as a ploy to drag their feet on elections.

It was highlighted during the meeting that the electoral body had already conducted delimitation of constituencies four times for the conduct of local government polls. It deplored that whenever the ECP completes preparations for the conduct of electoral exercise, amendments are made to the laws.

The Election Commission, which has so far failed to assert itself and meet its legal obligation, easily digested amendment to the law introduced after announcement of election schedule. However, now it has decided that work on delimitation would be started as per the amended Local Government Act 2015.

Election Commission claims frequent changes to LG Act used as ploy to drag feet on polls

The electoral watchdog has ordered the office to immediately make necessary arrangements accordingly and submit the delimitation schedule to the Election Commission for approval. The local government elections in Islamabad were postponed for the third time on September 4, after the ECP issued a notification “to hold in abeyance” the election programme issued on August 20 till further orders.

According to the ECP notification, “Consequent upon the recent amendments made by parliament in Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015….. dated August 30, 2024, the Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to hold in abeyance, the election programme issue vide its notification even dated 20-08-2024 for conduct of local government elections in Islamabad Capital Territory, till further orders.”

On August 20, the ECP extended the poll schedule, deciding that the polling would be held on October 9, instead of the earlier announced date of September 29. It had said the decision was taken at the request of local politicians.

However, the notification on Wednesday about postponing polls “till further orders” came after amendments to the local government act which the parliament recently passed amid opposition by the PTI.

In the new bill, the government has increased the number of general seats of union councils (UCs) from six to nine and the seats of women from two to three. The ECP also did not mention new delimitations, which will likely be required before elections due to the increase in seats.

Speaking to Dawn, former opposition leader of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad Shiraz Kiani said the PTI will move the Islamabad High Court against the decision.

“We had told the media a couple of weeks back that efforts were afoot to delay the polls as the government cannot afford a defeat in Islamabad polls. They [government] knew that they could not win elections from the PTI,” he claimed.

The PML-N chief whip in the National Assembly and MNA from Islamabad, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, said that if there was a little delay in elections there should be no issue as “we want to introduce the best local government model in Islamabad, like New Delhi and London”.

His views were supported by another PML-N MNA from Islamabad Raja Khurram Nawaz who said the government wanted to have a vibrant local government system to resolve issues of the public at the grassroots level.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024