The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to move ahead immediately with local government elections in Punjab and cantonment areas. It has directed that a draft election schedule for Punjab be submitted for immediate approval.
The commission also called the Punjab government’s response unsatisfactory over the delay in holding the polls.
Punjab seeks April 2027 date amid officer list delays
According to the ECP, the Punjab government wants to hold the elections in April 2027, citing December fog, cold weather and Ramadan. The commission said an agreement had been reached to hold the polls between December 15 and January 15.
The provincial government has yet to provide the lists of officers needed for the electoral process. The ECP has given it one week to submit the lists of District Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers.
Cantonment polls stalled without defence ministry response
The commission has also decided to issue the schedule for cantonment elections immediately and ordered that the programme be submitted for approval without delay. It said it had written several letters to the Ministry of Defence and sent a letter to the prime minister on the matter, but had received no response.
