The Election Commission of Pakistan has now ordered the suspension of the local governments in the provinces.
A notification issued by the ECP has granted the powers of a first-class magistrate to personnel of the armed forces in charge of security at the polling stations.
The unprecedented decision by the ECP to suspend a democratic institution appears to be both arbitrary and illogical. Will the ECP suspend the provincial and federal governments when the next LG [local government] elections are held?
The ECP is a constitutionally autonomous institution, but it is not unaccountable. The ECP ought to clearly justify its actions or else reverse course immediately.