ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local elections preparations must be completed within 15 days, the Election Commission of Pakistan said Tuesday.
A four-member Election Commission of Pakistan bench was headed by Sindh Member Nisar Durrani. This bench heard the case on delayed local government elections in the province.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, the secretary of the Local Government Department, and officials from the Bureau of Statistics appeared before the commission.
The Local Government secretary told the bench that maps of 15 districts and other required material had been provided by the Bureau of Statistics. Furthermore, the commission questioned why the material had not been supplied earlier and expressed concern over the delay.
The Special Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan asked the commission to direct the Bureau of Statistics to provide maps and the required data immediately upon request.
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah told the commission that the provincial government had completed necessary arrangements for the elections.
He said amendments to the Local Government Act were under consideration by the provincial cabinet. He also sought more time to complete the legislative process.
Election Commission member Justice (retd) Ikramullah objected during the hearing to the repeated use of the abbreviation “KP” for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be referred to by its full name. The Election Commission accepted the provincial government’s request, granted 15 days and fixed the next hearing for July 28.
