Islamabad High Court ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold local government elections in the capital on Saturday as per the original schedule.

The court also ordered the federal government to provide all possible assistance to the ECP for conduct of the election.

The election commission had delayed elections ‘for the time being’ in the capital on December 27, saying that fresh delimitations were needed due to an increase in population. Today’s decision, announced by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, set aside the election commission’s order.

PTI and Jamat-e-Islami had moved the court immediately after the election commission’s decision. Islamabad High Court had reserved judgement in the case on Friday, after lengthy proceedings.

In response to the high court judgement an emergency meeting has been called in the ECP. While preparations regarding the elections have been largely completed, it is unclear whether the ECP can organise an election on a day’s notice since large numbers of civil servants will have to be mobilised as election staff.

A day earlier, the IHC directed the election commission to submit the local government elections’ new timeline on Friday (today) after holding consultation with the federal government and also sought written arguments from the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) and the ECP.

The court asked the ECP official whether the commission was ready to conduct the elections on Dec 31 as the government was referring the matter to it.

The ECP director general said it would take seven to ten days and holding elections on Dec 31 was not possible in the new situation.

This story is being updated as details come in.