ECP Moves Forward with Local Government Elections in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken significant steps to conduct the long-delayed local government elections in Islamabad. On Monday, the Commission mandated officials to dr
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken significant steps to conduct the long-delayed local government elections in Islamabad. On Monday, the Commission mandated officials to draft a schedule for the upcoming polls, underlining its constitutional responsibility to facilitate local governance.
Local government elections: Constitutional Compliance
In a reserved decision addressing the longstanding issue, the ECP highlighted that recent amendments made to Section 15 of the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, via the ICT Amendment Act, 2024, are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, the Elections Act of 2017, and Section 20 of the ICT Local Government Act, 2015. The ECP asserted that these amendments did not conform to established electoral guidelines.
Authority and Responsibilities
The Commission reaffirmed its authority under the Election Act to appoint its own officers for the conduct of elections. It noted that district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs), and assistant returning officers (AROs) may be designated from various sectors, including government departments, the judiciary, or other public institutions. Significantly, the ECP clarified that secretaries of union councils are not authorized to oversee the conduct of local government elections. Furthermore, the elections for reserved seats must also be managed by officials appointed by the Commission.
Timeliness of Elections
The ECP emphasized that the tenure of Islamabad’s current local government concluded on February 14, 2021. As an independent constitutional entity, it is obligated to hold local government elections within 120 days of a local government's term expiration. In response, the ECP has instructed its office to prepare a comprehensive election schedule and make necessary arrangements for the upcoming polls in Islamabad.
