ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdict on the timing of local government elections in Punjab after the provincial government sought to hold the polls after January 20, citing harsh winter conditions and the need for additional time to complete election preparations. A four member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case, with Punjab Local Government Minister …
Punjab seeks local polls after Jan 20; ECP reserves verdict
ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdict on the timing of local government elections in Punjab after the provincial government sought to hold the polls after January 20, citing harsh winter conditions and the need for additional time to complete election preparations.
A four member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case, with Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, the chief secretary and the secretary local government appearing before the commission.
During the hearing, the chief election commissioner said a meeting had earlier been held between the ECP and the Punjab government’s cabinet committee, in which the provincial government had proposed holding elections between December 15 and January 15.
However, the Punjab chief secretary told the commission that the government needed two months to complete the necessary preparations and requested that the polls be scheduled after January 20.
Explaining the government’s position, he said severe fog in December, particularly in Lahore and other parts of Punjab, coupled with shorter daylight hours and cold weather, could affect voter turnout and create difficulties in managing election arrangements and deploying polling staff.
He described April as a more suitable month for holding the elections, citing longer daylight hours and school holidays, but said the provincial government had no objection to holding the polls in January or February.
The chief election commissioner observed that the commission would examine the provincial government’s request to hold elections after January 20 before announcing the polling date.
