The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday ordered all provincial advocates general to submit by July 22 the date for holding local government elections in their respective provinces.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the Balochistan law and order case on Thursday, during which Punjab Advocate General Mustafa Ramday told the bench that government was ready to hold LG polls, but issues regarding delimitation of constituencies were pending.
The apex court said local government elections were the constitutional responsibility of the incumbent provincial governments and the polls should be held in September.
The Election Commission of Pakistan informed the court that 90 days would be required to hold local government elections after a notification was issued in this regard.
During the hearing, advocates general of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed their readiness to hold local government polls, whereas the Sindh government asked for a five-month period, drawing the ire of the apex court.
The CJP remarked that if the provincial governments were not willing to hold local government elections, the court would decide the issue and would not let any delays to occur.
He further said the Election Commission should not shy away from its responsibilities and that local government polls should be held in September.
The court ordered Punjab advocate general and Election Commission to complete the legislation process within 90 days.
The SC observed that Sindh province violated the constitution for not holding local bodies elections for five years.
The court had earlier issued notices to the provincial governments to submit a statement telling the date on which the LG elections would be held.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that any date beyond September will not be acceptable.
He further said that the governments seem to delay the elections until 2014.
SC orders local bodies elections in September
The case’s hearing was subsequently adjourned until July 22.
The fate of the LG system hangs in the balance as provincial governments have so far failed to make effective legislation and give the people a better replacement for the one introduced by the Musharraf regime and address their problems at the grassroots level.
