In a significant development on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja expressed serious concerns over what he described as the current government’s apparent disregard for both the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the local government system. These remarks came during a hearing focused on the prolonged delay in conducting local government elections in Islamabad, a matter that has drawn widespread attention due to its implications for democratic governance at the grassroots level.
During the proceedings, the CEC lamented that despite the constitutional importance of local bodies, the government seems to be sidelining the ECP’s role and the entire local government framework. He pointed out that the commission had been forced to issue a contempt notice as a result of this neglect, signaling a breakdown in cooperation between the federal authorities and the election watchdog. This situation has raised questions about the government’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and decentralization.
It is important to recall that the ECP had initially scheduled the local body elections in Islamabad for February 15. However, these elections were postponed following the federal government’s decision to introduce new legislation, which has further delayed the electoral process. The CEC highlighted that Islamabad has been without a functioning local government since February 2021, a gap spanning over two years. During this period, two different governments, including a caretaker administration, have taken office, both of which had reportedly shown willingness to facilitate the elections, yet the polls remain stalled.
Meanwhile, the hearing also addressed the absence of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was exempted from appearing in person due to health reasons. Although the minister did not attend, the interior secretary was present and informed the commission about Naqvi’s condition. The CEC granted the exemption for the day, noting that the interior minister had been summoned previously in his personal capacity to respond to the commission’s queries.
During the session, the bench scrutinized the draft notification related to the Islamabad local government elections and raised concerns over its content. Notably, the draft included the names of union councils, which the commission clarified fall outside the jurisdiction of the concerned department. The delimitation process and matters concerning union councils are explicitly within the ECP’s mandate, and the commission stressed that the notification did not meet the required standards. Instead of providing the number of towns and union councils as requested, the draft listed their names, which was deemed inappropriate.
Furthermore, the ECP pointed out discrepancies in the draft, such as an increase in the number of union councils from 125 to 130, along with the inclusion of unnecessary details about wards. These irregularities have complicated the election preparations and contributed to the ongoing delays. The interior secretary acknowledged these issues and offered an apology to the commission for the contempt notice issued earlier. He also informed the bench that the draft notification had been submitted to the federal cabinet for approval, indicating that the government is still in the process of finalizing the legal framework for the elections.
In a bid to improve coordination and expedite the electoral process, CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the formation of a committee tasked with overseeing the preparations for the local government elections in Islamabad. This committee will be led by either the chief commissioner or the deputy commissioner of Islamabad and will include representatives from the Election Commission. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between the ECP and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, ensuring smoother communication and cooperation going forward.
Overall, the developments underscore the challenges facing the local government electoral process in Pakistan’s capital, reflecting broader issues of governance and institutional collaboration. The delay in holding elections not only hampers democratic representation at the grassroots but also raises concerns about the government’s priorities regarding local governance reforms.
