ICT LG Bill to be enacted today, SC told

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) was informed on Monday that the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2015 has been sent to the president, and it is expected that the bill will be enacted today (Tuesday) under which local government elections will be held in the federal capital after 23 years.
Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt informed a two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Dost Muhammad Khan about this development.The National Assembly (NA) on July 29 passed the bill, accommodating amendments of the Senate seeking holding of elections in the federal capital for the first time in history on party basis.
Justice Khawaja observed that the Bill itself provides for holding local body’s election in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) therefore the ECP shall forthwith commence the process of elections.
Arshad Muhammad, Additional DG (Law), ECP, however, contended that election has to be undertaken in accordance with rules adding that unless such rules are framed, the ECP will not be able to hold local government elections in the federal capital.
AG Butt submitted before the court that the rules will be framed within a week. Justice Khawaja told Arshad Muhammad the law has empowered the ECP to ensure holding of local government elections in the federal capital.
“Do you intend to hold local government elections in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)?” Justice Khawaja asked the ECP official saying if rules were not made in 25 years, then you will deprive the citizens of federal capital of choosing their local representatives.
“You have been empowered to render constitutional obligation by ensuring local government elections in federal capital,” he asked the ECP official.He observed that they had expressed their concerns on previous occasions that the citizens of ICT have been deprived of local body’s election since 1992.
He observed that by holding local body’s election, the local people elected in the elections will be able to address the problems being faced by the citizens and will resolve their problems.Meanwhile, the court on the request of Attorney General adjourned the hearing till August 5 with the direction to update it pertaining to framing of the rules for ensuring local government elections in the ICT.