The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed concern over persistent delays in holding local government elections and recommended that government to make an amendment in section 219 of the Election Act 2017.
ECP Spokespersons stated that successive governments have failed to show seriousness in conducting polls on time, thereby weakening democracy at the grassroots level.
In a set of recommendations sent to the government, the ECP has proposed amendments to Section 219 of the Election Act 2017 to ensure the timely conduct of local government elections.
The Commission emphasised that local governments are a vital pillar of democratic institutions, playing a crucial role in providing basic services and addressing public issues at the community level.
The recommendations suggest that upon the completion or dissolution of local governments, elections should be held simultaneously under the prevailing local government laws to avoid legal or administrative hurdles.
The spokesperson noted that past experience shows a lack of commitment by governments to hold local government elections on time, which undermines public representation and weakens democratic governance at the local level.
The Election Commission clarified that conducting local government elections is not solely its responsibility but a shared constitutional obligation of the federal and provincial governments. Failure to fulfil this responsibility, the ECP warned, directly harms the public and erodes democratic norms.
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