ECP orders immediate LG polls in Punjab

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to immediately hold local government elections in Punjab and cantonment areas, directing its officials to immediately submit draft election schedules for approval.

The commission rejected the Punjab government's response as unsatisfactory, turning down its proposal to conduct local government elections in three phases in April 2027.

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

The meeting was informed that the Punjab government, in its October 14, 2026, response to the commission's October 2 letter and draft election programme, had proposed holding local government elections in three phases in April 2027. It cited dense fog and severe winter conditions in December, followed by the start of Ramazan in February, as reasons for seeking the delay.

The ECP, however, rejected the proposal, stating that consultations with the provincial government under Section 219(3) of the Elections Act had been completed on August 20, 2026.

During those consultations, the provincial government had agreed to hold local government elections between December 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.

The commission said it had decided to proceed with the elections in Punjab and issue the schedule without further delay in fulfilment of its constitutional and legal responsibilities. It directed its office to immediately submit the draft election programme for approval.

The ECP 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. It directed the government to submit the required lists within a week.

 

Cantonment elections

The commission also decided to proceed with local government elections in cantonment areas and directed its office to submit the election programme for approval immediately.

According to the statement, a consultative meeting was held on April 15, 2026, with the additional secretary of the Ministry of Defence and the director general of the Military Lands and Cantonments Department.

During the meeting, the ECP had asked the defence secretary to move a summary to the federal government so that it could formally request the commission to conduct elections in cantonments under Section 19(D) of the Cantonments Act, 1924.

The commission said it had sent several reminder letters to the Ministry of Defence, while the CEC had also written to the prime minister on the matter. However, no satisfactory response had been received.

The ECP said it had decided to proceed with cantonment elections in view of its constitutional and legal obligations, directing its office to immediately place the election programme before the commission for approval.