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ECP Strikes Down Islamabad LG Amendment, Orders Immediate Local Elections

The commission declared a 2024 amendment unconstitutional, restoring control over polling appointments.

Overview

  • A five-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued a reserved decision on November 17.
  • The 2024 change to Section 15 of the ICT Local Government Act was found inconsistent with the Constitution and the Elections Act.
  • Union Council secretaries were ruled ineligible to conduct polls or oversee reserved-seat voting, as they do not meet the legal definition of public officers.
  • The ECP will nominate DROs, ROs and AROs from the judiciary, administrative services or other public institutions, with only ECP-notified officers running the process.
  • The office was directed to present a detailed election schedule immediately, following a November 13 hearing and notices to the interior secretary and Islamabad’s chief commissioner, after years of delays despite five delimitations and three issued schedules.