Zubair Qureshi
A large number of candidates contesting Islamabad’s local government (LG) elections earlier scheduled for Dec 31 have resented the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision of postponing the LG polls once again, this time without giving any date. The local government elections in Islamabad were first due in June 2021 but the successive governments kept delaying them and the latest blow to people’s right of vote has been dealt by none other than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government that has been vehemently advocating the slogan of “Vote ko izzat do” or “Give respect to vote.” Ahmed, a candidate for the Islamabad LG said he had conducted quite a good campaign and a big chunk of his savings had already been spent.”Now who will compensate me,” he asked.
Likewise, a female candidate from G-10 Union Council Farhat Yasmin said the government’s decision to postpone election was because it feared a clean sweep defeat by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates.
They should keep one thing in mind they are bound to lose whenever LG polls are held, she said. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday postponed “for the time being” local government elections.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja made the decision while hearing the matter in Islamabad.
