Parliamentary legislation: Govt refuses to entertain ECP proposal
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has refused to entertain a proposal floated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out parliamentary legislation in order to restrict the federal and provincial governments from amending the local government laws after the expiry of the respective local bodies’ terms in order to avoid delay in LG polls.
This was revealed in a press release issued by the ECP on Friday regarding the LG polls scenario in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the press release, the ECP had suggested to the federal government to amend the Article 140A of the Constitution of Pakistan and Section 219 of the Elections Act, 2017 to restrict the federal and provincial governments from amending the LG laws after the expiry of the respective LGs term in order to ensure the timely conduct of LG elections.
The ECP, as per the press release, further suggested that the existing laws be amended to ensure that the federal or provincial governments could only amend the LG laws, if they so desired, at least one year prior to the expiry of the respective LG terms to avoid any delay in LG polls conduct.
“However, on behalf of the federal government, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs informed the ECP that legislation was the right of the Parliament, and that Parliament could not be stopped from exercising this right,” the ECP statement said.
The Article 140A of the constitution reads that each province shall, by law, establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments.
The Section 219(1) provides that the ECP shall conduct elections to the local governments under the applicable LG laws and the rules applicable to a province, cantonment or the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Meanwhile, the ECP’s press release said that regular delimitation process in the ICT would start from today (August 1) that would conclude on October 13, and that arrangements have been in this regard.
In Punjab, the list of delimited constituencies would be published on 17 August, following which the ECP said it would consult the provincial government to fix a date for LG elections.
In KP, the provincial government amended the LG laws due to which delimitation is not possible unless the related anomalies are rectified, the ECP stated.
In this regard, the provincial government, on July 28, sought three-week’s time to rectify anomalies in the LG laws, which the electoral body has granted, the statement said.
The ECP said it is ready to hold the LG laws in ICT and provinces, but, it added, the governments concerned amend the related LG laws whenever the LG polls are announced that causes delay in these elections.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026