ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reiterated that the responsibility for conducting local government elections lies with provincial authorities. In a recent session led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the ECP underscored the constitutional mandate requiring provinces to organize these elections promptly.

Challenges Due to Legislative Amendments

Commissioner Raja expressed concern over the reluctance of some provincial governments to hold local elections. He noted that frequent amendments to local government laws by provinces have disrupted the ECP’s preparations, leading to repeated delays in the electoral process. “Whenever we complete our preparations, provincial governments amend the laws, forcing us to restart the process,” Raja stat

Progress and Ongoing Efforts

Despite these challenges, the ECP has successfully conducted local government elections in three provinces and cantonment areas. However, in Punjab, the process remains stalled. The Punjab Chief Secretary informed the commission that a new Local Government Act is currently under legislative review in the provincial assembly. Once enacted, the necessary rules will be established to facilitate the elections. The ECP has urged the Punjab government to expedite this legislative process to enable timely electi

Constitutional Mandate and the Path Forward

The ECP’s stance underscores the constitutional obligation of provincial governments to conduct local government elections. Timely legislative action and adherence to constitutional provisions are essential to uphold democratic processes and ensure that local bodies are elected without unnecessary delays.