The Supreme Court ordered Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce date of local body elections in a week.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa has said that the people of Pakistan are being deprived of their democratic right as the government is delaying holding local bodies elections.
Two memeber Bench comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Maqbool Baqar heard the case.
Justice Qazi said the Election Commission is committing contempt of court by not following Supreme Court’s decision.
He said Supreme Court had ordered ECP on November 18, 2020 to hold local elections but it has not yet announced the date of election.
Attorney General Khalid Javaid said the Federation could hold only Islamabad’s local body election as it is provincial prerogative to hold local government elections.
Justice Qazi asked whether dissolving local government in Punjab was a legal action, the Chief Election Commission replied that the provincial government has taken illegal action by dissolving local bodies.
However, he said, the Punjab government has made new local government law.
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan announced local bodies elections in the province on September 15 and the cabinet has endorsed the decision.
He said that the provincial government is committed to the decentralisation of power and authority and decision making at grassroots level.
He directed all the provincial departments to ensure implementation of the laws framed by the provincial government in letter and spirit.
PUNJAB: The provincial government informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about the progress regarding local body elections and hinted at completing groundwork before September.
Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat appeared before the ECP as the chief minister’s representative and recorded statement on behalf of provincial government.
He said that the number of village councils in the province has reduced to 8,000 from 25,000 and the elections would be held in phases.
