ECP admonishes Punjab for not conducting local bodies elections

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has shown dissatisfaction with the Federal and Punjab governments for not conducting local bodies elections in the Capital and the province.

The hearing on the case in ECP has been adjourned indefinitely by the five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

The bench remarked that the commission will issue a directive even if the order is overturned by the high courts.

The ECP chief remarked that we can summon the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryanm Nawaz if necessary.

Zeeshan Rafiq, Punjab’s Minister for Local Government, told the bench that elections would be place as soon as the legislation is finished and that the local bodies law has not yet been enacted.

The Speaker of the Punjab Assembly has been asked to speed up the procedure, he continued.

The Chief Election Commissioner voiced his displeasure, saying that Punjab did not hold elections in spite of several chances and the presence of the government at both the federal and provincial levels.

The Chief Election Commissioner came to the conclusion that there would be no more delays. “The chronology will no longer be determined by you. The date will now be determined by the Commission,” he stated, adding that the court anticipates visible progress before the next hearing.