CEC hints at calling PM, CM over delay in LG polls

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja Monday hinted at calling prime minister (PM) and chief minister (CM) if local government (LG) elections are not held in Islamabad and Punjab.

He made this observation during hearing of the case related to the delay in the conduct of local government elections in the federal capital and Punjab, the population-wise largest province. The full five-member bench of the electoral body, headed by the CEC, heard the matter.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Omar Hamid Khan briefed the forum about the delay in holding electoral processes and contended that the Punjab government and the federal government were not interested in holding LG polls.

He pointed out that Punjab delayed the elections for three years, as the term of local governments in Punjab ended on December 31, 2021. Moreover, he added, since 2019, local government laws had been changed five times in Punjab, and the law was being changed for the sixth time in the province.

The bench was informed that the ECP held a hearing on the Punjab local governments in February. The CEC stated that he himself had appeared in the Supreme Court in the LG polls case. “It is not possible that the provincial government does not make legislation and there is no election for five years,” the CEC made it clear.

Appearing on behalf of the provincial government, Punjab local government minister informed the bench that the provincial government was trying to complete the legislation soon. The local government bill had been in the assembly for more than three months. The minister noted that usually it takes two months for the bill to be approved, but right now the proposed legislation in Punjab was under consideration in the standing committee concerned. He offered to share the draft of the LG rules with the ECP. In response, the CEC retorted that barring Punjab, all three provinces have conducted elections.

The CEC contended that if the ECP issued an order regarding local government elections, then it would be ‘embarrassing’ for them and declared to pass an appropriate order. “We shall not ask you about time rather the Election Commission will spell out time,” he remarked.

He stressed that the process should be completed as soon as possible and insisted the commission could not sit with its eyes closed. At one point, one ECP member wondered, “whom should we call who will give us a commitment that the election will be held”.

The ECP could call the PM as well as the Punjab CM in case the LG elections are not held in Islamabad and Punjab. Later, the hearing was adjourned.