Islamabad (Pakistan News): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict in the case concerning the holding of local government elections in cantonment boards.
A five-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case. Representatives of the Ministry of Defence also appeared before the commission.
During the hearing, Ministry of Defence officials informed the commission that a request had already been sent to the federal government to fix an election date, but no response had been received so far.
Officials said the federal government was required to approach the Election Commission to determine the election schedule, while delimitation work in two cantonment boards was still pending.
The legal adviser to the Ministry of Defence requested an extension until January 2027 to complete the delimitation process. He said instructions had been received to seek additional time.
The Additional Director General of Military Lands assured the commission that the entire delimitation process would be completed within the proposed timeframe.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja expressed displeasure over the delay in the electoral process, observing that the federal government was not responding even to the Ministry of Defence and had also failed to contact the Election Commission to fix an election date.
He remarked that local government elections could be held in areas where delimitation had already been completed, adding that there appeared to be no reasonable justification for postponing the entire electoral process.
Subsequently, the commission reserved its verdict in the case concerning local government elections in cantonment boards.