The Islamabad High Court on Friday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s notification on the postponement of the local government elections and directed the ECP to hold polls in the capital city on December 31 (tomorrow).
The verdict was pronounced by IHC Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who was hearing identical petitions filed by the PTI and the Jamaat-i-Islami against the ECP’s decision — announced earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the ECP had deferred the polls after the federal government increased the number of union councils (UCs) in the capital without taking ECP into confidence.
“Keeping in view the legal provisions and the judgement of the Honorable High Court, Islamabad dated Dec 23, 2022, regarding the subject matter. Local Government Elections in ICT scheduled to be held on Dec 31, 2022, is hereby postponed for the time being,” the short order by the ECP had said.
Afterward, JI and PTI had approached the IHC against the decision.
Before reserving the verdict, the court had expressed displeasure over the federal government’s attitude and voiced its reservations over the “waste of money” if the polls were not held on time.
In a short order issued after hearing the petitions today, the court set aside ECP’s order.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan is directed to hold the local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory as per the schedule already announced i.e. on 31.12.2022,” it said.
The court also ordered directed the federal government to provide complete assistance to the electoral body for conducting the local bodies’ elections as mandated by the Constitution.
