The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday raised objection to the contempt petition filed by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) against Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not holding local government elections in the federal capital, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The PTI had filed the contempt petition against the chief election commissioner, four ECP members and secretaries of interior and Cabinet Division.

The IHC Registrar raised the objection, asking how can contempt petition be filed against the chief election commissioner?

Sardar Taimur Aslam Advocate on behalf of PTI leader Ali Nawaz Awan had filed the petition, praying the IHC to initiate contempt proceedings after its order to hold LG elections on December 31 was not implemented.

Earlier, the ECP and the government had filed intra-court appeals against the IHC order to hold Islamabad LG polls on December 31 (today).

It may be recalled that the Islamabad High Court had ordered the ECP to hold LG elections in the federal capital on December 31 but the federal government had refused to provide security and the election staff were also not available immediately, due to which the elections could not be held on the court’s order.

Earlier the Interior Ministry had increased the number of union councils in Islamabad from 101 to 125. ECP had initially objected to the increase and announced to conduct elections on a prescribed date but had later agreed to the government’s point of view of postponing the elections.

Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani