LAHORE: The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League has urged the Election Commission to announce a date for Punjab’s local government elections without further delay, a day after the commission rejected the provincial government’s request to push the polls to April 2027.
PMML Punjab president Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar welcomed the commission’s decision and said his party was ready to field candidates across the province. He accused the provincial government of avoiding the polls and said there was no justification for further postponement.
The Election Commission called Punjab’s response unsatisfactory on Thursday and ordered its offices to submit draft election programmes immediately. The province had written on Oct 14 proposing three-phase polls in April 2027, citing December fog, winter and the start of Ramazan in February. In August, after consultations under the Elections Act, it had agreed to hold the polls between Dec 15 and Jan 15.
The commission also gave Punjab a week to submit lists of officers to serve as district returning, returning and assistant returning officers.
Sarwar said handing power to elected representatives at the grassroots would improve access to basic services. He also criticised the provincial government’s spending priorities, questioning the use of expensive official aircraft while many citizens struggled with rising living costs.
Punjab has been run by appointed administrators since its elected local councils were dissolved, and opposition parties including the PMML have repeatedly pressed for a firm schedule. The provincial government has not responded publicly to the commission’s latest decision.
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