ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has expressed its readiness to hold local bodies’ elections in Sindh and Punjab as per the Supreme Court’s orders if the provincial governments amended laws to empower it to undertake the delimitation process.

Sources said a meeting of the commission decided on Thursday to send a proposal to the apex court to seek more time to complete the delimitation process because it felt that the time limit of 45 days was not sufficient.

Presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Nasirul Mulk, and attended by all members and provincial election commissioners, the meeting resolved to hold local bodies’ elections across the country by Nov 15.

ECP Director General Syed Sher Afgan told newsmen that the commission would need at least 45 days to complete the delimitation process after local government laws were amended.

He said elections could not be held by the end of the month in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because the commission had not received a formal request from the provincial government.

He said the commission had reviewed the LG election rules of the KP government and suggested certain changes last week. It would return the delimitation rules to it in two to three days with some suggestions.

About holding LG elections in the federal capital territory and cantonment areas, he said no decision had been taken because the matter was still in court.