Delimitation delay: ECP blames Punjab, Sindh govts

ISLAMABAD: Local Government (LG) elections may further delay due to the non cooperation of Punjab and Sindh governments with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for carrying out delimitation process, a senior official in ECP revealed to The Express Tribune.

He lamented that despite sending two reminders, both provincial governments did not provide data and authenticated maps to the commission for carrying out delimitation process.

Meanwhile, the ECP submitting a report in the apex court on Friday told that the Sindh government sought 30 days and Punjab government sought more 15 days for providing the data and authenticated maps for carrying out delimitation.

The report says that the ECP is committed to initiate the process of delimitation of local governments as early as possible after the receipt of notifications of demarcation of local areas, determination of number of councils/wards and authenticated maps from the Punjab and Sindh Governments as well as amendments in the respective Act by the Punjab & Sindh Governments.

The report informed that the commission on October 20 had already requested the provincial government Punjab for provision of notification of demarcation of Local Governments and determination of number of Local Councils and Wards of Local Governments as required under sub-section (2) of Section 8 of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013 but no response has so far been received from the Provincial Government.

In compliance of the court’s December 1 order, the commissions hold a meeting with the representatives of Provincial Governments of Punjab, Sindh and Cantonment Boards.

“The Secretary, Local Government Punjab apprised the meeting that due to Moharram ul Haram, the required notification, data and authenticated maps could not be provided.

However, he assured that required notification relating to demarcation of local governments and determination of number of local councils and wards of local governments, authenticated maps and other relevant data would be provided to the Election Commission within fifteen (15) days”, the report says.

During the meeting, the commission however pointed out that some amendments in Punjab local governments Act, 2013 are required.

After thorough deliberation in the matter, the representative of Punjab government agreed to the fact that the proposed amendments required in the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013 would be enacted through ordinance within 15 days, the report further states.

About the delimitation process in the province of Sindh, the commission has pointed the certain anomalies in the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 and same were conveyed to the representatives of Sindh government in the meeting.

It was also brought to their notice that unless necessary amendments are made by the provincial government in the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, the Election Commission is unable to start the work of delimitation.

The representative of Sindh government has assured the commission that after making necessary amendments in the Act; the same would be notified by the provincial government and will be communicated to the ECP within thirty (30) days.

The commission however advised the Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh to keep close liaison with the provincial government and provide necessary assistance and input wherever required in the matter.

The report also tells that the matter relating to non-provision of notifications relating to demarcation of local governments and determination of number of union councils and wards of local government as required under Sindh Local Government Act, 2014 along with authenticated maps of all local areas, council, and other requisite information material to the Election Commission was also discussed.

After thorough deliberation in the matter the representatives of Provincial Government Sindh assured that the above said notified data, maps etc would also be provided within 30 days, it adds.

The report also told that Provincial Election Commissioners, Punjab and Sindh have constituted a committee in their respective offices in order to chalk out the exact requirements for procurement of necessary material in order to carry out the exercise of delimitation.

Necessary training relating to delimitation is being imparted to the District Election Commissioners and Election Officers of the Punjab and Sindh provinces and the same will be completed by second week of January, 2015, it adds.

The ECP also tells that a draft of the Rules has been prepared under the Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974 in accordance with Section 12 of the Act for consideration and approval of the Election Commission in its next meeting.

Regarding the LG polls in Cantonment areas, the commission informed that the representatives of Cantonments authorities shared the draft Cantonments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 with the participants of the meeting and some anomalies were noticed therein which require thorough deliberation in the matter.

It was, therefore, proposed by the commission that an exclusive meeting will be held today (Saturday) to resolves such anomalies in the draft Ordinance with Cantonment Boards authorities, the report further states.