ECP snubs Punjab govt's plea to delay LG polls, seeks immediate poll schedules

LAHORE:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday decided to proceed with local government elections in Punjab and cantonment areas, directing its offices to immediately submit draft election programmes for approval amid delays in preparations.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and attended by ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan, along with the ECP secretary and other senior officials.

At the onset of the meeting, it was informed that the Punjab government had responded on October 14 to the ECP’s October 2 letter and draft election programme, proposing that local government elections be held in three phases in April 2027.

The provincial government cited dense fog and severe winter conditions in December, followed by the beginning of Ramazan in February, as reasons for seeking a revised election schedule.

However, the ECP termed the response unsatisfactory, noting that consultations with the provincial government under Section 219(3) of the Elections Act had been completed on August 20. During those consultations, the provincial government had agreed to hold local government elections in Punjab between December 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.

The commission expressed concern over the provincial government’s attempt to revise the previously agreed dates, stating that it had decided to proceed with the elections in fulfilment of its constitutional and legal responsibilities.

Subsequently, the ECP directed its office to immediately submit the draft election programme for Punjab for the commission’s approval.

CEC Raja also expressed disappointment over the provincial government’s failure to provide lists of officers for appointment as district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers.

The provincial government was ordered to submit the required lists within a week.

Read: ECP agrees to hold Punjab local polls between Dec 15 and Jan 15

The meeting was also briefed on progress regarding local government elections in cantonment areas.

The ECP was informed that a consultative meeting had been held on April 15, with the additional secretary of the Ministry of Defence and the director general of the Military Lands and Cantonments Department. During the meeting, the commission had asked the Ministry of Defence secretary to forward a summary to the federal government so that it could formally request the commission to conduct cantonment elections under Section 19(D) of the Cantonments Act, 1924.

According to the briefing, the commission had sent several letters to remind the Ministry of Defence to no avail.

CEC Raja said he also wrote to the prime minister on the matter and was waiting for a response.

Taking note of the delay, the commission decided to proceed with cantonment elections in line with its constitutional and legal obligations and directed its office to immediately submit the draft election programme for cantonment areas too.