Zubair Qureshi
Three major political parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) have started lobbying for their respective candidate for the coveted office of the Mayor of Islamabad. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) a day earlier had announced Dec 28 as the date for Islamabad Mayor’s election.
The mayor’s seat fell vacant in October when PML-N’s supported Sheikh Anser Aziz resigned only days after sending a summary to the Ministry of Interior proposing to hand over the functions of four directorates under the Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to the federal government.
According to the schedule for by-polls announced by the ECP, the returning officer will issue a public notice inviting nominations on Dec 9 and the nomination papers will be received and scrutinized on Dec 11 and Dec 16, respectiv-
ely.
Dec 17 has been set as the last date for filing appeals against acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers which are to be decided by the appellate authority by Dec 18.
While talking to Pakistan Observer, a number of councilors of the PTI and PML-N expressed confidence their candidate would be easily elected on the Mayor’s office.
Dec 21 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidature and the final list of candidates with election symbols will be published the following day.
Polling will take place on Dec 28 and the results would be announced on Dec 29.
With a view to ensuring that the polls are conducted fairly and in accordance with the law, the ECP has directed executive authorities not to use state resources to influence the elections in favour of a particular candidate or a political party.
If any person in the Government service misuses his official position in any manner in order to influence results of elections, he shall be proceeded against under Section 58 of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015, reads code of conduct issued with the poll schedule.
It also makes it clear that a public office holder found to have violated any provision of election laws or the instructions issued by the commission, shall be proceeded against as mandated by the law.
The ECP has also issued a notification appointing Regional Election Commissioner Rawalpindi Nazar Abbas as the District Returning Officer (DRO) and District Election Commissioner Islamabad Naeem Ahmad as the Returning Officer (RO) for the
polls.
Sheikh Anser Aziz, the first mayor of the federal capital also served as the CDA chairman with an additional charge during the tenure of the PML-N for one and half years.
He has claimed he was put pushed against the wall with all powers taken back by the federal government, MCI could no longer serve its dearest citizens.” Better to quit if can’t help my pe-
ople.”
