PPP steps up local govt poll preparations across Punjab

Party directs Central Punjab units to shortlist candidates

LAHORE:

Following the Election Commission of Pakistan's refusal to postpone the local government elections until April, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has directed its organisational units across Central Punjab to accelerate preparations and submit candidate lists within a stipulated deadline.

Meanwhile, the party's Lahore chapter has invited applications for local government positions until October 27, with nomination papers tentatively scheduled to be filed from October 27 to 30.

The directives were issued at a meeting of the PPP Central Punjab's Local Bodies Monitoring Committee, chaired by its convener, Rana Farooq Saeed, at the Peoples Secretariat in Model Town.

The meeting discussed candidate selection, election monitoring, organisational mobilisation and the possibility of political alliances.

The committee directed district presidents of all 31 organisational units in Central Punjab, comprising 26 districts and five major cities, to become active immediately and identify and shortlist suitable candidates at the union council level.

Candidate lists must be submitted within the stipulated deadline, while the monitoring committee will visit each division to assess the state of preparations.

Rana Farooq Saeed said elections at the union council level could provide the foundation for success in the next general elections. He stressed that candidates should be selected on the basis of their influence in their respective constituencies, public outreach and political standing.

He said candidates should be finalised at the divisional level in consultation with district presidents, while organisational decisions should be coordinated with the party's designated ticket holders.

He added that the party's organisational structure would be extended to the union council level, with divisional and district leadership kept informed.

The committee also called for greater participation by young candidates and loyal party workers, alongside efforts to strengthen district organisations and launch membership drives.

Provincial Information Secretary Shahzad Saeed Cheema said the committee would formulate terms of reference for the elections and involve the party's main wing, the Peoples Students Federation, the women's wing and other affiliated organisations.

Rana Farooq Saeed maintained that the PPP did not accept the existing Local Government Act but would participate in the elections regardless. Participants also discussed challenging the legislation in court and preparing a white paper on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's performance during its 23-year tenure in Punjab.

In Lahore, PPP city president Faisal Mir announced that applications had been invited for the positions of mayor, deputy mayor, union council chairman, vice chairman and councillor across all towns of the city.

The deadline for submitting applications is October 27, while nomination papers are tentatively scheduled to be filed between October 27 and 30, subject to the Election Commission's final notification.

Applications are available at the PPP Lahore office at 16-J/2, Johar Town. Mir said people seeking to join the party or contest the elections through an electoral alliance could also apply.

Under the eligibility criteria announced by the party, candidates for mayor, deputy mayor, union council chairman and vice chairman must be at least 25 years old and registered voters in the relevant area. Candidates for councillor positions must be at least 21, while applicants for reserved youth seats must be between 18 and 35 years of age.

Mir said applications would be scrutinised before candidates were selected. He added that the party intended to field panels of candidates and campaign for them, stressing the need to remain prepared for the elections regardless of the final schedule.