ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday approved a bill seeking to pave the way for local government elections in Islamabad, despite strong opposition from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The proposed legislation, which seeks to amend the existing framework for local government polls in the federal capital, was passed by the committee through a majority vote.
PPP leader and committee member Qadir Patel raised serious reservations during the meeting, arguing that the proposed legislation would give the administrator excessive powers while potentially delaying the election process.
“Under this bill, the administrator’s powers are unlimited,” Patel said, questioning whether the legislation would ultimately facilitate elections or strengthen the authority of an unelected administrator.
He also questioned the future administrative structure of Islamabad, asking who would exercise authority if the federal capital were eventually granted provincial status.
Bill faces deadline
Committee member Agha Rafiullah pointed out that the legislation faced a September 5 deadline, warning that it could lapse if it was not approved by the National Assembly before then.
He said that even though the committee had approved the bill, the absence of a parliamentary session before the deadline could result in the legislation expiring.
Rafiullah maintained that the PPP would support legislation aimed genuinely at holding local government elections in Islamabad.
“If you want to hold elections, then we are with you. If you want to make the Election Commission fool, then that is a different matter,” he said.
Delimitation already completed
The committee chairman defended the legislation, saying the objective was to ensure that local government elections were held in Islamabad.
He noted that delimitation of constituencies in the federal capital had already been completed.
Officials from the Ministry of Law explained that the existing ordinance was approaching the end of its validity and said the proposed legislation would take the form of a bill after securing approval from the committee.
Despite the PPP’s opposition, the committee chairman put the legislation to a vote, following which the bill was approved.
