‘Delimitation under way in Punjab’

Punjab’s Election Commissioner says provincial governments resisting local body polls

LAHORE:

Punjab’s Election Commissioner Saeed Gul Mohmand has said that the delimitation of constituencies for local body elections in Punjab is under process despite the fact that no government wants to hold the polls.

Addressing a press conference, he said that according to the constitution, local body elections must be held within 120 days.

He remarked that they are facing resistance from provincial governments.

He said that the initial list of constituencies is displayed, and objections can be submitted till January 23.

Some political elements are pushing propaganda on constituencies for political purposes, he added.

The provincial election chief said that the Punjab government was asked several times to determine the number of union councils, but it was given a figure of 25,000 population.

Under Section 10 of the Local Government Act, the authority to determine the number of UCs was given to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which was implemented, he said.

Unnecessary objections were raised against the UCs of Rawalpindi and Murree, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2023.