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ECP Seeks Law Amendment to Ensure Timely Local Government Elections
ECP proposes amendment to Elections Act 2017 to ensure timely local government polls, citing repeated delays by federal and provincial governments.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-19
ECP Seeks Law Amendment to Ensure Timely Local Government Elections

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought an amendment to the Elections Act, 2017 in a bid to ensure the timely conduct of local government elections across the country, it emerged on Monday.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Parliamentary Affairs Division, the ECP proposed an amendment to Section 219(1) of the Elections Act. The move aims to remove ambiguities that have repeatedly delayed local government polls in provinces, cantonments and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Under the existing law, Section 219(1) states that the commission shall conduct local government elections under the applicable local government laws and rules. However, the proposed amendment explicitly adds that elections must be held at the time of expiry or dissolution of local governments, ensuring no undue delay in the electoral process.

Explaining the rationale, the ECP referred to Article 140-A of the Constitution, which obligates provinces to establish a local government system with devolved political, administrative and financial authority. The commission noted that under Article 140-A (2), read with Article 219(d) of the Constitution and Chapter XIII of the Elections Act, it is constitutionally bound to conduct local government elections.

“Local government is an important tier and bedrock of democracy, which provides basic facilities to the public at the grass-root level,” the ECP said in the letter. It added that successive governments have generally shown reluctance to hold local polls, creating serious hurdles for the commission in fulfilling its constitutional duties.

The letter, issued with the signatures of Additional Director General (Local Government Elections) Chaudhry Nadeem Qasim, highlighted that federal and provincial governments often repeal or amend local government laws even after the expiry of the elected bodies’ terms. This practice, the ECP said, causes inordinate delays and undermines the electoral process.

Section 219(4) of the Elections Act already requires the commission to hold local government elections within 120 days of the expiry of a local government’s term. Despite this
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