• Fixes 15 wards for both districts
• Final lists to be published on January 13
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has notified the delimitation schedule for Quetta and Kharian cantonment boards following their reclassification by the federal government, amid proceedings on delays in holding local government (LG) elections in cantonment boards across the country.
The federal government has upgraded Cantonment Board Quetta from Class-II to Class-I and Cantonment Board Kharian from Class-III to Class-II. Accordingly, the ECP has fixed the number of wards at 10 for Quetta and five for Kharian.
The development comes as the ECP takes up a case concerning delays in holding local government elections in cantonment boards. The electoral body had directed its office to immediately prepare and submit an election schedule for cantonment boards for approval. The case, initially scheduled for Oct 28, could not be heard and was subsequently fixed for November 10.
Notices have been issued to the secretary of the Ministry of Defence and the director general of the Military Lands and Cantonments Department.
During its meetings held on Oct 5 and 15 to review delays in local government elections in the four provinces, Islamabad and cantonment boards, the ECP was informed that the delimitation process for cantonments had been completed and the commission was ready to hold elections.
However, under Section 19D(2) of the Cantonments Act, 2023, the federal government is required to formally request the ECP to conduct the elections. The commission noted that despite repeated reminders and a letter from the Chief Election Commissioner to the prime minister, the required request had not been submitted.
According to three notifications issued on Oct 29, the delimitation exercise for Quetta and Kharian will be conducted between November and January. Administrative arrangements, including the procurement of maps and training of committees and relevant authorities, will be completed from Nov 2 to 4.
The delimitation committees will prepare preliminary ward lists from Nov 5 to 19, which will be published on November 20 to invite objections.
Objections can be submitted to the delimitation authorities from Nov 21 to Dec 20.
The authorities will decide the objections by Jan 5, 2027, and communicate their decisions to the committees by Jan 8. The final ward lists will be published on Jan 13, 2027.
Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2026
