LG polls not possible before four months despite court order: Rana Sanaullah

LAHORE, Dec 30 (SABAH): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Friday though the government respected court’s ruling the local government elections would not be possible before four months.

Speaking about the LG polls arrangement, Rana Sanaullah said that making the arrangement of 1,000 polling stations on an immediate basis was not possible. He said it would take at least 10 months to hold the general election likely in October.

Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday to hold local government elections in the capital city on December 31 (today) and set aside its notification on the postponement of the polls.

The verdict was pronounced by IHC Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who was hearing identical petitions filed by the PTI and the Jamaat-i-Islami against the ECP’s decision  announced earlier this week. In a short order issued on Friday, the court set aside ECP’s order dated Dec 27.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan is directed to hold the local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory as per the schedule already announced i.e. on 31.12.2022,” it said.

The court also ordered the federal government to provide complete assistance to the electoral body for conducting the local bodies’ elections as mandated by the Constitution. On Tuesday, the ECP had postponed the polls “for the time being” at the last minute, frustrating thousands of contestants and their supporters.