ECP urges Punjab to complete legislative process for timely LG polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stressed on Wednesday that the Punjab government must swiftly complete the legislative process, as it is the province’s responsibility to ensure local government elections are held on time.

It contended that immediate legislation was necessary so that the commission could speedily begin the process of delimitation under the law, and ensure holding of immediate elections in the province.

The electoral body made these observations, as a full bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case on the holding of local government elections in Punjab, here at its secretariat.

The Punjab chief secretary and Local Government secretary appeared before the ECP on behalf of the provincial government. Before the hearing began, the CEC remarked that under Article 140(A)(2) 219(d) of the Constitution and Section 219 of the Elections Act, the Election Commission was bound to conduct local government elections in the Federation and the provinces.

He regretted that unfortunately, no provincial government was ready to conduct local government elections. “Whenever the Election Commission completes its preparations, the respective provincial governments amend the laws, due to which the Election Commission has to restart the entire election process,” he noted.

After a lot of struggle in three provinces and cantonments, he contended, the Election Commission succeeded in holding local government elections. “It is the responsibility of provinces to hold local government elections on time,” he insisted.

The ECP secretary, while assisting the Election Commission during the hearing, informed the forum that the provincial governments of that time changed the electoral laws in the province five times. The ECP conducted delimitation of constituencies three times for elections; enlistment of electoral groups was done two times and despite giving the schedule of local government elections, it was not possible to hold elections in the province.

The Punjab chief secretary told the ECP that the present provincial government had started working on the Local Government Act soon after taking over the government. However, he continued, because feedback from all stakeholders was necessary, the final draft of the Local Government Act had been sent to the Punjab Assembly for necessary legislation.

As soon as the legislative process is completed, he explained, rules would be made under the law. He added the provincial government was also ready to provide all kinds of assistance to the Election Commission for holding elections in the province.