Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja said on Thursday that local governments in Punjab had completed their term and it was the responsibility of the provincial government to ensure elections were held in light of the constitution.
A five-member bench, headed by the CEC, heard the case relating to local bodies’ (LBs) elections in Punjab.
The CEC directed the committee to finish its work by February 10 and that all demarcations be made by February 20. “Otherwise, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will intervene,” he warned.
Addressing the chief secretary Punjab, who appeared before the bench, the ECP officials said that the provincial government had not kept its promise as the rules had not been notified until the stipulated time.
They further said that local governments in Punjab had completed their term on December 31, 2021.
The officials conveyed to the secretary that they had objections to the demarcation rules shared by the provincial government with them.
They made it clear to the secretary that as per the constitution, elections must be held within 120 days after the completion of the term of local governments.
The officials told the official that in light of the Supreme Court (SC) verdict, a provincial government could not issue directions to the election commission.
They said that thrice demarcations had been made in Punjab.
The CEC asked what was common between the LBs elections in Punjab and Islamabad?
One of the members replied that the common thing was that the same party had the government in the province as well as in the federal capital.
This led to a laughter in the room.
Member KP said that if the provincial government did not follow the orders, then it should be declared disqualified.
Disagreeing with him, the chief election commissioner said that the time had not come for that as yet.
Secretary local bodies Punjab told the bench that delay in the framing of demarcation rules was due to the provincial cabinet’s sub-committee. “Only when these rules are approved that work on demarcations will start,” he said.
Chief secretary told the commission that the local government system in Punjab was entirely different. “A new system has been introduced,” he said, and added that the government had even formed rules for the union councils.
He further said that the government’s team would today sit with the commission officials. “We redrafted the rules and shared them with the commission,” the secretary said, adding that whenever a matter was forwarded to the cabinet, it formed a sub-committee. “And when these matters land in sub-committees, delay is inevitable.”
Member Punjab said why not the commission summon the provincial local government minister.
The secretary said that the time had not come for that as yet.
The CEC said that if the need arose, he would summon the Punjab chief minister. “Tell this to the CM that not having local governments is a matter of shame,” he said, adding if that was not done, the commission would take over.
Later, the CEC adjourned the case’s hearing until February 20.
