The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday directed the federal and provincial governments to expedite legal and administrative measures for holding local government elections across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad and cantonments, as it reviewed preparations and stressed the need to remove remaining hurdles to ensure timely polls.
ECP pushes provinces, federal govt to expedite local elections preparations
ISLAMABAD, Oct 05 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday directed the federal and provincial governments to expedite legal and administrative measures for holding local government elections across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad and cantonments, as it reviewed preparations and stressed the need to remove remaining hurdles to ensure timely polls.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired the special meeting, attended by ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi and Justice (retired) Ikramullah, Secretary ECP and senior officials.
Regarding Punjab, the commission was briefed that it was ready to conduct local government elections and had already sent a draft election schedule to the provincial government.
The ECP has also sought lists of District Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers from the Punjab government to facilitate their appointment. The commission asked the provincial government to respond to the draft election schedule at the earliest.
For Islamabad Capital Territory, the commission was informed that delimitation had been completed. However, the Islamabad Capital Territory Amendment Ordinance 2026 had expired.
The ECP decided to approach the federal government, pointing out that the relevant legislation had already been approved by the Senate Standing Committee and urging completion of the legislative process without delay.
The commission said that if the required legislation was not enacted, it would proceed with local government elections under the existing Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015.
Regarding cantonments, the ECP said delimitation had been completed across all cantonments and it was ready to conduct elections.
Under Section 19-D(2) of the Cantonments Act, 2023, however, the federal government is required to request the ECP to hold elections in cantonments.
The commission noted that despite reminders and a letter written by the Chief Election Commissioner to the Prime Minister, no progress had been made in forwarding the required request.
The ECP decided to send a final letter to the Ministry of Defence and said that if no satisfactory response was received, it would take an appropriate decision regarding the holding of cantonment elections.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the commission was informed that delimitation had been completed in 23 districts and was under way in seven others when the provincial government amended Section 6(5)(e) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2023.
The amendment increased the population threshold for delimiting Village and Neighbourhood Councils from 5,000-15,000 to 30,000-40,000.
The ECP observed that the revised threshold was inconsistent with the number of Village and Neighbourhood Councils specified in Schedule IX of the provincial Local Government Act, making delimitation under the amended threshold impracticable.
The commission asked the provincial government to amend the number of Village and Neighbourhood Councils in Schedule IX in line with the revised threshold so that delimitation and elections could proceed.
As the provincial government had not taken the required action, the matter is currently under consideration by the ECP, which would take an appropriate decision.
In Balochistan, the commission was informed that the tenure of local governments would expire on February 8, 2027.
Local elections in Quetta, however, could not be held despite an order of the Federal Constitutional Court.
The ECP had completed delimitation in accordance with the court’s order on May 21, 2026, but the provincial government subsequently divided Quetta into two districts and did not provide the commission with the required delimitation details and other data.
The ECP expressed concern over the slow response from the provincial government and decided to write to it, directing that the necessary legislation for holding local government elections in Quetta be completed immediately and compliance with the court order be ensured.
In Sindh, the commission said preparations for timely local government elections had also been initiated and directed its field offices to take all necessary measures in this regard.
