The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday summoned Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi over delays in holding local government elections in Islamabad, while issuing a contempt notice to the interior secretary for failing to appear before the commission.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Ali Randhawa appeared before the commission, but the interior secretary did not attend the hearing.
“Where is the interior secretary?” the CEC asked during the proceedings, directing that the interior minister be summoned in person if the secretary continued to remain absent.
“If the secretary is not coming, then we will summon the interior minister in his personal capacity,” Raja said, adding that the minister would have to appear at the next hearing.
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials told the bench that a letter had been sent to the interior ministry, but no response had been received. They also complained that the interior secretary was not cooperating with the commission.
Taking notice of the absence, the CEC ordered the issuance of a contempt notice to the interior secretary.
Officials informed the bench that a demarcation notification, Islamabad’s official map and the number of union council members were required before the delimitation process could begin.
Raja remarked that the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration appeared to be taking the matter lightly.
“These elections are directly the responsibility of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT),” he said, adding that three federal ministers had previously appeared before the commission and assured it that the issue would be resolved.
“Do not force us to take strict action,” the CEC warned, directing authorities to provide a clear timeline. The chief commissioner of Islamabad was asked to present progress on the matter at the next hearing.
The case was adjourned till next Tuesday.
The commission also heard a separate matter regarding delays in local government elections in Punjab.
Punjab Chief Secretary and the Secretary Local Government appeared before the commission during proceedings.
The ECP’s special secretary informed the bench that the commission had earlier constituted a committee and held several meetings on the issue.
He said the commission already had the Punjab local government law and the delimitation framework, but the provincial government still needed to provide the local government election rules and demarcation maps.
“We need the maps to start the delimitation process,” Raja remarked, asking whether the exercise could begin immediately.
Punjab’s secretary of local government told the commission that deputy commissioners had been directed to provide the required maps within two to three days.
“Within a week, deputy commissioners will provide the maps to district election commissioners,” he said.