Overview
- The Election Commission directed its office to prepare the schedule for Islamabad’s local government elections after issuing a reserved ruling.
- The decision finds the 2024 change to Section 15 of the ICT Local Government Act inconsistent with the Constitution, the Elections Act 2017, and Section 20 of the 2015 law.
- Union council and Local Government Department secretaries cannot conduct polls or manage reserved-seat voting, which must be overseen by ECP-nominated officials.
- The Commission will designate DROs, ROs, and AROs from the judiciary, administrative services, government departments, or other public institutions, noting the LGD secretary does not meet the legal definition of a public officer.
- Notices summon the interior secretary and Islamabad’s chief commissioner, while the ECP seeks legislative adjustments from the Interior Ministry and notes the capital’s local government term expired on February 14, 2021, despite the 120-day election requirement.