ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja accused the federal government of attempting to sabotage Islamabad’s upcoming local government elections by withholding essential polling staff. Despite the challenges, the electoral chief firmly vowed that the local polls will proceed as scheduled on December 20.
Speaking during a three-member bench hearing regarding code of conduct violations in the NA-77 by-election, Raja highlighted that the Centre had issued orders preventing teachers from being assigned election duties. Questioning how the commission is expected to operate without adequate personnel, he stated that the government failed to respond to formal directives sent by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The local government elections in the capital have faced repeated delays since the previous term expired in February 2021. Alongside the dispute over Islamabad polling staff, the ECP addressed alleged electoral code violations during the NA-77 by-election, issuing warnings and scrutinizing actions involving federal ministers, PML-N lawmakers, and local administration officials. The commission adjourned the related proceedings until December 1.
