The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has again issued notices to chief election commissioner Pakistan (CECP), Islamabad commissioner, Islamabad deputy commissioner, and others and sought reply from them within two weeks on a petition filed by PTI because Local Bodies (LB) polls are not being conducted in Islamabad.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah took up for hearing petition filed by PTI district president Amir Masood Mughal on LB polls Wednesday.
Farrukh Dar appeared on behalf of PTI in the court and took the plea that no steps were being taken by Election Commissioner of Pakistan for holding LB polls in the rural and urban areas of Islamabad nor was the schedule of LB polls in respect of federal capital being announced. It was the responsibility of the Election commission to conduct LB polls keeping in view the fundamental rights of the citizens, he argued.
He argued that the court had issued notices to the parties concerned in connection with LB polls during previous hearing of this case and directed them to file their replies.
Counsel for PTI told the court that notification-2001 pertaining to LB polls was presented by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the court wherein it was laid down that LB polls cannot be conducted in federal capital Islamabad because majority of federal government employees live in Islamabad who cannot exercise their right to vote.
Counsel for PTI further told the court law-2002 has been put in place with respect to LB polls in Islamabad under which LB polls in rural and urban areas of Islamabad can be conducted. No dilatory tactics of census and delimitation of constituencies can be used by ECP, he added.
He prayed the court to again issue notices to the parties concerned with regard to LB polls in Islamabad and seek reply from them.
The court issued notices again to CECP, Islamabad commissioner, Islamabad deputy commissioner, secretary local bodies and secretary ministry of law and justice and sought reply from them within two weeks.
Talking to media after hearing of the case, PTI District President Amir Masood Mughal said that not holding LB polls in Islamabad is tantamount to committing robbery on the fundamental rights of the people. PML-N government does not want that LB polls take place and powers are devolved at grassroots level.