Govt argues for increasing local body seats, political parties disagree
\n ISLAMABAD
\nThe Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday postponed the local government elections scheduled for December 31 in Islamabad following a change in the union councils of the federal capital.
\nA five-member bench had reserved the verdict earlier in the day after arguments were concluded in the case.
\nDuring today\u2019s hearing, former attorney general Ashtar Ausaf, who is representing the federal government in the case, told the bench that the union councils were increased in Islamabad based on the increase in population.
\nAt this, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja asked whether the census report had been published.
\nAusaf told the bench that the census bureau had informed about the increase in Islamabad\u2019s population, adding that the ECP must look at the increase in population.
\n\u201cThe Islamabad High Court (IHC) also recognised the increase in population but authorised the Election Commission to take the final decision after listening to the government\u2019s point of view,\u201d Ausaf told the bench.
\n\u201cIn the past, even after the schedule was released, elections were postponed. The Election Commission has to decide according to the constitution and the law,\u201d said Ausaf, adding that the ECP cannot deprive citizens of their fundamental rights.
\nThe lawyer also told the bench that the Parliament has passed the legislation increasing the number of union councils, adding that ECP must conduct delimitation in Islamabad in light of the new law.
\nMeanwhile, a member of the ECP wondered why there was a sudden increase in the population in six months. The lawyer informed that the government reviewed NADRA\u2019s data.
\nHowever, CEC Raja said that the delimitation of constituencies was done for Islamabad twice. He also gave the example of Punjab where the exercise was done twice and is now being done for the third time.
\n\u201cWhy did the government not realise at the right time to increase the UCs,\u201d asked CEC Raja. He added that UCs were increased once the election schedule was issued, saying that the government has put the electoral body in a difficult situation.
\n\u201cIf a mistake is made then the commission should provide assistance,\u201d responded Ausaf. However, CEC Raja reminded the counsel that a mistake is made once not again and again.
\n\u201cIn Article 148 of the Constitution, it is written that elections are to be conducted according to the local law. Now, if that law is changed, then what should be done? There should be legislation binding the authorities to hold elections held on time,\u201d remarked CEC. He added that the ECP also faced resistance in provinces over the local government elections.
\nMeanwhile, Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan, a member of the bench, remarked that general elections are also supposed to be held, and wondered what would happen to the future of local body elections.
\nOn the other hand, CEC Raja said that the ECP fears that the government may change the UCs again, adding that the government has to stop this at some point.
\nOn this, Ausaf assured the ECP bench that there will be no changes in the law and wrapped up his arguments.
\nMeanwhile, PTI\u2019s lawyer Babar Awan told the bench that the ECP has already issued the schedule and elections are supposed to be held on December 31, reminding that the law has been changed twice.
\nAwan said that the ECP was being misled by the government.
\n\u201cThe president has not yet approved the bill,\u201d said Awan, adding that the president may send back the bill to the Parliament within 10 days with objections while backing the ECP\u2019s views on the local body elections.
\nThe PTI counsel also said that if the president signs the bill then the law can be challenged in a court of law, adding that under Article 264 even if a new law is made then elections are to be held under the previous law.
\nThe PTI counsel, while wrapping up his arguments, urged the bench to let the polls happen on December 31.
\nMeanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami\u2019s (JI) counsel Hassan Javed reminded the bench that the people of Islamabad have been deprived of representation for the last two years.
\nHe told the bench that his party is standing with the ECP. He added that the IHC in its judgment did not challenge the ECP\u2019s order.
\n\u201cThe high court did not declare the authority, opinion or decision of the Election Commission as wrong. It only said that these parties were not heard, take a decision after listening to them, \u201csaid the lawyer. After listening to all the parties, CEC Raja, while wrapping up the hearing, remarked that the voter list has no link with the election schedule.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Govt argues for increasing local body seats, political parties disagree ISLAMABAD The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday postponed the local government elections scheduled for December 31 in Islamabad following a change in the union councils of the federal capital. A five-member bench had reserved the verdict earlier in the day after arguments were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-303848","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n