Gazette on establishing elected councils fixed for March 20

The gazette notification over establishing the newly elected councils will be published by the government printers on March 20 following the request from, Election Commission (EC) in order to resolve the women quota deadlock, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha said.

“We have informed the Elections Commission in writing that the quota should be protected and as a government, we are committed to the quota and are bound to protect it, Minister Musthapha was quoted as saying by Government Information department while addressing a discussion held with women’s organizations at the ministry yesterday.

Forty four women’s organizations around the country have written to the minister asking that the government ensure that the quota be protected.

The minister also explained that all political parties are legally bound to protect the quota and if they ignore that responsibility. " I ask that the Elections Commission to direct them to do it. People believe that these parties will keep to the quota and if the parties do not do so, they are in breach of the mandate given to them,".