ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was unable to start polling for local body elections in Islamabad on Saturday, despite the order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The polling for the local body elections was scheduled to commence at 8 am, however, the ECP staff was unable to reach the respective polling stations.
Voters arrived for polling in Saidpur village union council (UC) and queued in protest as the gates for the polling station remained closed and staff was absent.
Similarly, in UC 37, voters lodged a strong protest after being unable to cast their votes.
Earlier, the IHC ordered the ECP to conduct local government elections in the federal capital on Saturday as per schedule, asking the federal government to assist the electoral watchdog in ensuring the holding of the polls.
The court cancelled the December 19 notification of the interior ministry regarding the increase in the number of union councils, while the December 27 notification of the ECP regarding the postponement of the elections was nullified.
The federal government excused itself from providing security to the ECP for the Islamabad LG elections, while the ECP made it clear that due to the lack of logistical support, election staff and other arrangements, it was not possible to hold the polls on Saturday.
The ECP decided to file an intra-court appeal against the IHC decision.
