ISLAMABAD:
Local government elections in the federal capital will be held on December 20, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Tuesday, issuing the election schedule along with strict instructions to ensure a transparent and impartial electoral process.
According to the schedule, nomination papers will be available from October 30 and may be filed from November 2 to 6. The list of candidates will be published on November 7, while scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from November 9 to 13.
Appeals against decisions on nomination papers may be filed from November 14 to 18, with decisions to be announced from November 19 to 23. The final list of candidates will be displayed on November 25, followed by the allotment of election symbols on November 26.
Polling will take place from 8am to 4pm on December 20, and the ECP said it will announce election results between December 21 and 24.
The commission has prohibited the use of government resources for election campaigning. The ECP will also bar transfers and postings of government officers after the schedule is announced, and public servants will not be permitted to take leave without the ECP’s approval.
The President, Prime Minister, federal ministers and governors will not be allowed to campaign in the local government elections. However, members of Parliament, senators and local government representatives may participate in campaigning.
The ECP warned that legal action would be taken against government officers found influencing election results and public office-holders violating electoral laws. It also directed that election offices remain open during public holidays and that election-related activities be conducted during official working hours, with strict compliance with the code of conduct.
The commission said all relevant institutions and officials must follow its instructions to ensure that the electoral process is completed transparently, fairly and in accordance with the law.
Earlier, the ECP had decided to hold the Islamabad local government elections under the 2015 local government law and ordered the immediate issuance of the schedule.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja observed that holding local government elections was a constitutional obligation, but the federal government had failed to provide the new local government law and relevant rules.
The ECP said delimitation had been carried out six times and election schedules issued four times in Islamabad. It maintained that holding the elections under the 2015 law would not affect the existing delimitation.
