Despite SC orders, difficult to hold LB elections in September: ECP

SC had ordered that any date beyond September won't be acceptable.

ISLAMABAD: In a session presided by the Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Ishtiaq Ahmad on Monday, it was decided that holding local bodies elections by September will not be possible, Express News reported. 

The session in Islamabad was called to discuss the possibility of holding local bodies elections by the deadline given by the Supreme Court earlier in July.

However, it was decided that since the provincial governments hadn't completed their legal formalities it would take longer for the ECP to hold the elections.

The Commission said that it would require 90 days to arrange local bodies elections after the provinces complete their legal formalities.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had earlier said on July 18 that all provincial governments must hold LB elections no later than September.

The Supreme Court bench had underlined that the LB polls are important in maintaining a contact between people and the government.