ISLAMABAD: Dismayed by the failure of the Punjab government to meet the timelines for various activities required to pave the way for the conduct of local government (LG) elections in the province, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to once again take up for hearing the matter of the long-delayed electoral exercise.

The assurance to complete the prerequisites for LG polls had been given to the Commission in October last year by the Punjab chief secretary, who had himself provided the timelines. Informed sources told Dawn that under the promised schedule, the Punjab Local Government (Delimitation of Union Councils) Rules were to be finalised by Oct 27; however, a formal notification is still awaited.

They said Nov 15 was the deadline for the provision of the Punjab Local Government (Conduct of Elections) Rules. Although a draft had been shared and the ECP had already given its input, the required notification has yet to be issued. Likewise, notification of demarcation and classification showing the limits of local areas was due by Dec 22, but remains pending.

The deadline of Dec 31, set for the notification of the number of union councils to be delimited within local areas, has also been missed. Authenticated maps showing census charges, census circles and census blocks as per 2023 census were to be provided by Jan 10, but these too have not yet been received.

Commission decides to rehear the matter; finds response of KP CM’s aide unsatisfactory

Sources said a letter expressing the ECP’s disappointment has been sent to the Secretary, Local Government and Community Development Department, Punjab, Lahore. The letter, seen by Dawn, states that the matter has been discussed at the highest level and that the Commission has taken a serious view of the failure to meet the agreed timelines and fulfil the assurances given by the government.

It deplores that the matter was left open-ended, without any fresh timelines being provided for the completion of all related activities. The letter states that, keeping in view the situation and the fact that the conduct of local government elections in the province has already been considerably delayed, the ECP decided fix the matter for hearing and take appropriate steps with regard to the conduct of local government elections in Punjab. “The due date for the hearing shall be conveyed soon,” the letter adds.

Under Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, the Commission is bound to hold elections to the local governments within 120 days of the expiry of the term of the local governments of a province, cantonment and the Islamabad Capital Territory. The local governments in Punjab completed their term on Dec 31, 2021, meaning that elections were required to be held by the end of April 2022.

According to Article 140A of the Constitution, each province is required by law to establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments. Many view it as a failure of the ECP that it allows the spirit of the law to be defeated by last-minute changes to local government laws.

On Oct 8, 2025, the ECP had ordered LG polls to be held in December and directed Punjab to immediately start the delimitation exercise and complete it within two months. “Thereafter, the election programme should be announced, and the election should be held in the last week of December 2025. The office is expected to follow the timelines strictly,” the Oct 8 order stated.

This order, however, was reversed in a meeting chaired by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja on Tuesday, in light of the new law, following a request by the Punjab government.

KP CM’s aide response unsatisfactory

The ECP has found the reply submitted by Special Assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Shafiullah Jan to the notice issued to him as “unsatisfactory” and decided to fix the case for regular hearing, a source in the ECP told Dawn.

Earlier this month, the ECP issued a notice to Mr Jan seeking an explanation for his statement blaming the electoral body for irregularities during the Haripur by-elections last year. He had alleged that Form-47 of the by-election had been prepared in Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2026