ISLAMABAD, Mar 05 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday set March 12 as deadline for submission of the maps of town corporations during the hearing of a case involving delay in conducting local government elections in the federal capital.
A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, took up the case.
The ECP officials informed the bench that three letters had been sent to the Interior Secretary seeking details on the demarcation of town corporations, the number of union councils, maps, and necessary amendments to the ordinance, but no response was received.
Following this, the CEC directed that a contempt notice be issued to the Interior Secretary.
The Chief Secretary Punjab, Secretary Local Government Punjab, Additional Secretary of the Interior Ministry, and Chief Commissioner Islamabad appeared before the commission.
The Chief Secretary Punjab told the bench that the provincial government had provided constituency rules and the Demarcation Order, outlining the number of union councils in town corporations, municipal corporations, municipal committees, and tehsil councils. Maps and other data would be submitted by March 12, 2026, while a notification for election rules would be issued soon.
The ECP directed its office to immediately issue the delimitation schedule once the provincial government provides the maps. It warned that if the maps are not submitted by March 12, division-wise deputy commissioners would be summoned daily from March 13 onwards.
The commission further noted that despite repeated letters, the Interior Ministry had not responded. The Chief Commissioner Islamabad told the bench he had not received any such correspondence.
Later, the Additional Secretary of the Interior Ministry appeared in place of the Interior Secretary, stating that the latter was attending a meeting. Taking serious notice of the non-response, the ECP ordered that a notice be issued to the Interior Secretary, warning that contempt proceedings could be initiated.
The Chief Commissioner Islamabad assured the commission that maps of town corporations would be provided within a week.
The ECP adjourned the case until Tuesday, March 10.