ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended powers conferred on Election Commission (EC) under Local government ordinance and has prevented it from performing its function to the extent of lslamabad under local government ordinance.

The court issued these orders in a case filed against local government ordinance.

The court has ordered federal government to present ordinance in the parliament.

The court took up for hearing the petitions filed by CDA labor union, CDA officers association and PML-N leader Sardar Mehtab.

Barrister Umar Ijaz Gillani, Qazi Adil, Kashif Malik and other lawyers appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners.

Qazi Adil advocate told the court if election is held then what will be left more. Then the ordinance will be nullified.

The court remarked if ordinance is abolished then the story will finish. Should the ordinance be suspended at this stage.

The defence counsel told the court no there is no need to suspend the ordinance at this stage of time. But the process of exercising this ordinance should be stopped.

The court remarked if we don’t suspend the ordinance then how can we suspend the system.

Defence counsel said local government ordinance be suspended.

The court inquired how should we suspend the ordinance this way. Tell us any law.

The defense counsel told the court if election is held then what will happen when the ordinance expires.

The court directed the petitioner counsels to read out their petitions.

Kashif Malik told the court no amendment has been made in CDA ordinance.

The court remarked this has to be seen by the federal government that CDA ordinance has to be struck down when. Election commission has been made party. Who has come from election commission.

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) told the court when election was held under 2015 act then population of Islamabad was 850000. Now population of Islamabad stands at 2 millions.

The court remarked what type of election commission it is that it determined population and not voters. Delimitation of constituencies is carried out when the population swells.

Election commission said interior ministry should provide its data within 10 days otherwise we will hold election under 2015 act.

The court remarked it means you became frightened of election commission. Federal government held local bodies polls in what province. War is underway in the country. No institution is working. Why the ordinance was promulgated in normal situation.

Assistant Attorney General told the court election commission had given time of 10 to interior ministry that it will hold election under 2015 act.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till March 03.