Punjab govt refuses to arrange local body polls, ECP demands funds
The government refused to arrange the local body elections, saying it is the ECP's responsibility.
ECP made this demand in response to the govt’s refusal to make the arrangements itself. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asked Punjab’s provincial government to provide the body with all the required resources for making arrangement for the local government elections, Express News reported.
The ECP made this demand in response to the provincial government’s refusal to make the arrangements itself as ordered by the commission on November 6.
The Punjab government refused to arrange the local body elections, saying it is the commission’s responsibility.
The task of organising the elections includes compiling voters’ lists and printing of millions of ballot papers.
Local elections
Deadlines set by the Supreme Court late last month to hold local government elections in three provinces by no later than December 7 have brought to light how unprepared the provinces are on this front.
These elections would be the first since the local system was devolved to the provinces themselves. Previously, the provinces were functioning under a central federally-constructed system. While the delays on the part of the ECP are technical, the real setbacks have come due to the lack of laws and rules. While Punjab had passed its local government bill, it is yet to act on fresh delimitations – a crucial exercise for the polls. Sindh, too, is in a similar position – except the provincial government still continues to tweak its laws. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has just passed its local government bill.
Political rivalries have also played their part in hamstringing efforts to put in place local government systems: the Punjab system, put in place by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been challenged by opposition parties Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). In Sindh, the PPP is in power, and has also had its local government act challenged by the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Lastly, PTI, in power in K-P, also faces a threat of seeing its recently-passed bill taken to court. It is only once these laws are in the clear that the rules will be framed on the basis of which the polls will take place.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asked Punjab’s provincial government to provide the body with all the required resources for making arrangement for the local government elections, Express News reported.
The ECP made this demand in response to the provincial government’s refusal to make the arrangements itself as ordered by the commission on November 6.
The Punjab government refused to arrange the local body elections, saying it is the commission’s responsibility.
The task of organising the elections includes compiling voters’ lists and printing of millions of ballot papers.
Local elections
Deadlines set by the Supreme Court late last month to hold local government elections in three provinces by no later than December 7 have brought to light how unprepared the provinces are on this front.
These elections would be the first since the local system was devolved to the provinces themselves. Previously, the provinces were functioning under a central federally-constructed system. While the delays on the part of the ECP are technical, the real setbacks have come due to the lack of laws and rules. While Punjab had passed its local government bill, it is yet to act on fresh delimitations – a crucial exercise for the polls. Sindh, too, is in a similar position – except the provincial government still continues to tweak its laws. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has just passed its local government bill.
Political rivalries have also played their part in hamstringing efforts to put in place local government systems: the Punjab system, put in place by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been challenged by opposition parties Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). In Sindh, the PPP is in power, and has also had its local government act challenged by the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Lastly, PTI, in power in K-P, also faces a threat of seeing its recently-passed bill taken to court. It is only once these laws are in the clear that the rules will be framed on the basis of which the polls will take place.