Body formed to determine reasons behind delay in LG polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday constituted a committee to determine the reasons for persistent delay in holding local government (LG) elections and submit proposals to entrust the responsibility of holding them on provinces and submit its recommendations to the commission.

The committee, headed by the ECP special secretary and comprising director general and senior officers, has been tasked to submit a report after thorough perusal.

The committee, constituted by the ECP in a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, was assigned to determine constitutional and legal responsibilities of the ECP in holding the LG elections; dependency of the ECP on federal and provincial governments for holding the LG elections; determine reasons for delay in elections; suggest proposals to reduce ECP's reliance on provincial governments for holding LG elections (to be sent to federal government for legislation).

The committee was authorised to submit proposals to hand over the responsibility of holding the LG elections to the provincial governments from the ECP so that they could be responsible for them.

The meeting also discussed the issue of lack of support of the provinces for holding the local body elections and taking different excuses for postponing the LG elections.