ECP summons top ICT officials over 'delay' in Islamabad LG polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in holding local government (LG) elections in the federal capital, attributing the postponement in part to the federal government's failure to provide the required assistance and documentation.

The electoral watchdog summoned Islamabad Chief Commissioner retired Lt Sohail Ashraf and Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon to appear in person on July 7 as it pressed for the completion of pending legal and administrative requirements needed to conduct the long-delayed polls.

The term of Islamabad's last elected local government expired in February 2021, but fresh elections have yet to be held despite the constitutional requirement to do so within a stipulated timeframe.

A four-member ECP bench, headed by Sindh Member Nisar Ahmed Durrani, resumed hearing the matter on Wednesday.

During the proceedings, Deputy Commissioner Memon informed the commission that the Islamabad district administration had prepared and submitted the maps required for the delimitation of local government jurisdictions in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

However, in its written order, the ECP observed that the electoral process had been delayed on multiple grounds, "including the non-assistance of the federal government as mandated under the Constitution and the law."

The commission also expressed "serious concern" over the continued failure to provide essential data and notifications required for the timely conduct of local government elections in the federal capital.

According to the ECP, the deputy commissioner informed the bench that the matter was currently pending before the Prime Minister's Office, where draft notifications regarding the number of union councils had been forwarded for federal cabinet approval.

In response, the commission directed its secretary to approach the Prime Minister's adviser concerned to facilitate the early approval of notifications specifying the limits of the proposed town corporations and the number of union councils within each jurisdiction.

"The Commission observed that the local government election in ICT has been sufficiently delayed," the order stated.

The ECP reiterated that under Article 140-A(2) of the Constitution, read with Article 219(d) and Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, it is constitutionally obligated to conduct local government elections in Islamabad and all four provinces within 120 days of the expiry of the tenure of local governments.

The commission recalled that, following its order issued on March 10, a committee had been constituted to resolve outstanding issues related to the conduct of local government elections in Islamabad.

The committee subsequently finalised draft notifications relating to the limits of the proposed town corporations and the allocation of union councils, while preparing the required maps for the exercise.

Despite this progress, the ECP noted that several key legal and administrative requirements remain pending before the federal government.

These include the formal notification defining the territorial limits of the three proposed town corporations, detailed descriptions of census blocks and administrative boundaries, authenticated maps in both digital and printed formats, official notification specifying the number of union councils in each town corporation, and amendments to the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 2026, along with corresponding revisions to the Local Government (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2015.

The commission observed that despite repeated correspondence, the required notifications, maps and legislative amendments had not been furnished, prompting it to summon the ICT chief commissioner and deputy commissioner for personal appearances.

While the chief commissioner sought exemption from Wednesday's hearing due to a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the commission accepted the request.

Deputy Commissioner Memon, however, appeared before the bench and submitted the proposed maps for the three town corporations. The ECP's Special Secretary confirmed receipt of the maps during the hearing.

The deputy commissioner also sought additional time to obtain confirmation from the Ministry of Interior regarding the prime minister's approval of the pending notifications.

The commission directed both the chief commissioner and deputy commissioner to appear before it on July 7 with an update on the completion of all outstanding requirements.

The delay in Islamabad's local government elections has remained a recurring issue, with the ECP repeatedly expressing concern over the prolonged absence of elected local bodies in the federal capital. In March this year, the commission also summoned Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to explain the continued delay in completing the legal and administrative framework necessary for holding the polls.