Fed govt adopts new tactic to delay LG polls, shows Islamabad population up to 20m

The federal government adopt a new tactic to delay the Islamabad LG polls by demanding to increase UCs by showing ICT's population over 205 million.

Photo of Web Desk Web DeskDecember 21, 2022
Islamabad LG polls, Islamabad population

ISLAMABAD: The federal government adopt a new tactic to delay the Local Government (LG) polls in Islamabad as the interior ministry submitted a summary to the cabinet for increasing the union councils (UCs) from 101 to 125 after the Islamabad population increased to 205 million.

Uncertainty loomed over the Islamabad LG polls as the federal government demanded to increase the UCs in ICT from 101 to 125.

In its summary, the interior ministry wrote, “Administrator MCI has informed that the present number of Union Councils has been fixed as 101 on the basis of census 2017. However, the population of Islamabad has increased to 205 million approximately after a lapse of five years Therefore, it is appropriate that number of Union Councils may be enhanced to 125.”

“In view of the request of Administrator MCT, it is proposed that the number of Union Council of Islamabad Capital Territory may be increased to 125 on the basis of present population,” it added.

 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protested over the move adopted by the federal government and termed the summary a tactic to flee from the LG polls.

PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar said in a video message that the coalition government is afraid of facing defeat in the upcoming Islamabad LG polls scheduled for December 31. He said that the coalition government is trying to flee from Islamabad LG polls after continuously delaying general elections, as well as LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad.

He criticised that the same government increased the ICT UCs from 50 to 101 but a few days before the LG polls, the federal government is demanding to increase the UCs from 101 to 125 due to an increase in population. Umar announced to move to the court against the federal government’s move.

Taimur Khan Jhagra also criticised the move and wrote on Twitter, “In their hurry to delay the Islamabad Local Council elections, the Ministry of Interior now believes the population of Islamabad is 205 million.”

A netizen slammed the government and said, “PDM bodies announce delay in local bodies election in Islamabad because apparently the city’s population has increased to 205 million. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s total population is less than 250 million. When a clown moves into the palace, the palace becomes a circus.”

Another said, “On June 13, 2022 incumbent federal govt increased number of Union Councils from 50 to 101 on basis of increased population of Islamabad in last notified Census-2017. Now they have changed it on basis of a hypothetical increase. ECP must go ahead with LG elections on Dec. 31, 2022.”

Photo of Web Desk Web DeskDecember 21, 2022
Photo of Web Desk

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