ECP ready for Punjab LG polls, faces hurdles in KP, Islamabad

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) says preparations for local government elections in Punjab are complete while legal administrative and legislative issues continue to delay the process in several other areas.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) says preparations for local government elections in Punjab are complete while legal administrative and legislative issues continue to delay the process in several other areas.

The development was discussed during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to examine preparations for local government elections across the country.

In Punjab the ECP has prepared a proposed election timetable and forwarded it to the provincial government for consideration. The commission has also requested lists of officials who could serve as district returning officers returning officers and assistant returning officers so that the appointment process can begin.

Preparatory work has also started in Sindh with the ECP directing its relevant offices to take necessary measures for conducting the elections on time.

In Islamabad, delimitation has been completed, but the expiry of the Islamabad Capital Territory Amendment Ordinance 2026 has created a legal complication. The ECP plans to approach the federal government to ensure the required legislation is completed. If this does not happen, elections could be conducted under the existing 2015 local government law.

The commission also said it was prepared to conduct elections in cantonment areas after completing delimitation. However, the federal government has yet to formally request the ECP to begin the process.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa changes to the population limits for village and neighbourhood councils have complicated delimitation. The revised figures do not match the number of councils specified in the relevant law leaving the process unresolved.

Balochistan is facing a separate issue in Quetta. Although delimitation was completed in May the provincial government later divided the city into two districts without supplying the required boundary information and other data. The ECP said it would seek urgent action from the provincial authorities.

The commission is expected to continue pursuing the necessary legal and administrative steps to enable local elections across the affected areas.