Key Points
- Punjab government may conduct elections in multiple phases.
- Delimitation process for Punjab local bodies has been completed.
- ECP stresses local elections are a constitutional requirement.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday agreed in principle to the Punjab government’s proposal to hold local government elections between December 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027, while asking the provincial government to submit a phased polling plan at the earliest.
The decision was taken at an important meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to discuss the scheduling of local government elections in Punjab.
The meeting was attended by ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (retd) Ikramullah.
A four-member Punjab cabinet committee, led by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, also participated in the meeting. The committee included Mines and Minerals Minister Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, Agriculture Minister Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Shah and Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
The Punjab chief secretary and special secretary for Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD), along with the ECP secretary and senior commission officials, also attended the meeting.
Winter polls proposed
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja highlighted the importance of elected local governments, saying the conduct of local government elections was a constitutional requirement under Article 140-A of the Constitution.
He also noted that under Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP is required to hold local government elections within 120 days after the expiry of the term of local governments.
The commission was briefed that the delimitation process in Punjab had been completed.
The ECP was further informed that consultation with the provincial government was required before announcing the election date under Section 219(3) of the Elections Act, 2017 and Section 59 of the Punjab Local Government Act.
Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, who headed the provincial consultation committee, told the ECP that Chief Minister Punjab was committed to holding local government elections and had given the committee full authority to participate in the consultation process.
He said the provincial government now needed to initiate the election process and would require additional time to ensure adequate resources were available.
The minister also cited the need for teaching staff during the electoral process, saying local elections require substantial support from teachers.
He proposed that the elections be held between December 15 and January 15, arguing that the period would be more suitable because school examinations would have concluded and fog would not pose a major problem in the province.
Phased polling plan
The Punjab chief secretary told the commission that the provincial government wanted to conduct the elections in phases during the proposed period.
He said phased polling would enable the government to provide adequate security and make better administrative arrangements for the elections.
The ECP agreed in principle with Punjab’s proposal to conduct local government elections between December 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027.
However, the commission asked the provincial government to prepare and submit its phased election plan as soon as possible for consultation.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja welcomed the proposals put forward by the Punjab cabinet committee, saying they would help pave the way for fulfilling the constitutional responsibility of holding local government elections.
