LG polls in Quetta: ECP rejects Bugti’s plea seeking postponement

ISLAMABAD: In an unusual move, Member Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from Balochistan Shah Muhammad Jatoi has supported the appeal of Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti seeking postponement of local government elections in Quetta on December 28, whereas the ECP rejected this appeal, deciding to hold the polls on the aforementioned date.

In the written order, ECP’s five-member full bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja rejected the appeal/review filed by CM Balochistan citing relevant laws as well as a judgement of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) for being devoid of force.

Jatoi, one of the bench members, categorically disagreed with the bench’s decision. “I am of the view that there will be low turnout of the voters due to harsh weather during the month of December as most of the residents migrate from the district to other districts. I am also of the considered view that the law and order situation in the province of Balochistan is not conducive for conduct of local government elections in the present scenario. Therefore, in my view, the local government elections in district Quetta scheduled for 28.12.2025 may be postponed till normalisation of weather as well as law and order situation in the district Quetta,” said his dissenting note which is part of the written order.

The ECP bench decided to hold LG elections in district Quetta as per the already announced election programme last month.

Through its order, the ECP bench directed the Balochistan government to assist the ECP in “every possible manner” under Article 220 of the Constitution in holding LG polls in Quetta.

Article 220 provides that it is the duty of all executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces to assist the CEC and the ECP in the discharge of their functions.

In October 2023, the ECP announced holding LG elections in Quetta on 30 November 2023, and issued the related schedule.

The ECP’s decision was challenged by the Balochistan government before BHC citing law and order situation in the provincial capital.

The BHC, the same month, suspended the election programme.

In October this year, the BHC finally rejected Balochistan government’s petition, and directed the ECP to finalise the LG polls process “as soon as possible.”

On 31 October, the CM Balochistan moved a request in the ECP for Quetta LG polls postponement due to prevailing law and order situation, and harsh weather conditions.

On November 3, the ECP, through a letter declined CM Bugti’s request, and issued the schedule to hold LG elections in Balochistan’s provincial capital on December 28. The bench has now issued a written order in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025