ECP issues notice to Punjab govt over delay in LG polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday issued a notice to the Punjab government over repeated delays in holding the local government (LG) elections and fixed the matter for hearing on February 26.

In this connection, a notice has been dispatched to the Punjab chief secretary and secretary local government.

The notice said the Commission had repeatedly held meetings and given reminders for the local government elections, but it was still not known what steps had taken in this regard. The Commission said the local government law had been changed four times in Punjab, while it (the Commission) conducted delimitation three times.

It said four weeks had been given to the Punjab government for completion of the Local Government Law. According to the notice, the Punjab government was asked to complete the legislation within a month after which no further extension would be given.

The Punjab government shared the Punjab Local Government Law with the Election Commission on December 26. The Commission sent its feedback to the provincial government on January 23, but it neither took any steps to enact the local government legislation, nor took any measures to hold the electoral exercise.