Islamabad: President Arif Alvi sent back Islamabad Local Government (Amendment) Bill without signing draft after raising objections. Bill aimed at increasing number of union councils to 125. Unsigned bill was returned under Section (1) (b) of Article 75 of Constitution.

 President House said bill would cause further delay in holding Local Body elections, adding that federal government’s steps taken in haste had already postponed elections twice and now another delay would not sit well for democracy. President House objected that despite competing delimitation of 50 union councils and announcement of polling date of July 31, 2022 federal government increased number of UCs from 50 to 101 that led to delay in elections.

President Dr Arif Alvi has returned unsigned the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in terms of clause (1) (b) of Article 75 of the Constitution.
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— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) January 1, 2023

ECP then announced to organise elections in ICT after completion of delimitation of 101 UCs on December 31, 2022. However, Section 2 of aforementioned bill mentions 125 UCs so elections have been again postponed.

 In official correspondence, it is said procedure for elections of Mayor and Deputy Mayor has been changed after announcement of LG elections schedule under Section 3 of said bill.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 02 2023

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