ISLAMABAD - The federal government Monday assured the Supreme Court that rules for holding Local Government elections in the federal capital would be finalised within 15 days.
A three-member bench of Supreme Court headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja was hearing the case related to LG polls in Islamabad.
Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman informed the court that rules for LG polls in the capital city have been framed and its notification would be issued today (Monday). He, however, stated that now the rules would be placed at prominent places and also uploaded on the Ministry of Interior’s website for public and to hear objections and suggestions on them. He said that within 15 days the rules would be finalised.
Justice Dost Muhammad remarked that there was no clause for amending the Local Government rules and if that happens then it would mean to allow bureaucracy to make amendment in the rules. The case was adjourned till August 27.
Meanwhile, hearing the petition of former Senator of PML-N Zafar Ali Shah, the bench ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to return the security of candidates that they had submitted on July 25 for contesting LG elections in Islamabad but now they were not contesting the election under the new LG law.
The PML-N leader had filed the petition for refund of Rs5,000 to Rs6,000 of those candidates, who were not contesting election under the new law.
The ECP had issued schedule for conducting LG polls on non-party basis on July 25. As the bill for LG polls was pending in the Senate and it was not clear whether the election would be held on party or non-party basis.
The Senate on July 9 passed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government Bill 2015 with some changes, particularly to hold the polls on party basis. Later the National Assembly approved the bill for holding polls on party basis.
Justice Jawwad directed the Director (Legal) ECP to refund the security as the earlier schedule announced by Commission has been canceled.