ECP reserves verdict on plea to change Punjab local election date
The Election Commission of Pakistan has reserved its decision on a Punjab government request to hold local government elections after January 20. The province had earlier sought a date between December 15 and January 15.
- ECP reserved its verdict on the Punjab government's request to move the local election date
- Punjab's chief secretary asked for a date after January 20
- The government had earlier proposed a window of December 15 to January 15
The Election Commission of Pakistan reserved its decision on a request to change the date of the Punjab local government elections. 24 News reported that the Punjab government had asked the commission to fix the polls for a date after January 20.
A four-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, the Chief Secretary and the Secretary Local Government appeared before it.
The Chief Election Commissioner said the Punjab cabinet committee and the Election Commission had held a meeting. The Punjab government had asked for the elections to be held between December 15 and January 15.
The Chief Secretary said preparations for the elections were complete. He asked for a date after January 20 and said two months were needed for election preparations.
The petitioner told the bench that Punjab and Lahore have heavy fog in December and that the weather clears after January 20. The Chief Secretary said January and February were acceptable. He said April suited the government because schools have holidays then and daylight lasts the full day.
According to the Chief Secretary, "سردی میں دن بھی بہت چھوٹا اور ووٹر نہیں نکلتا جبکہ اپریل میں روشنی کا پورا دن ملتا ہے" (the day is short in winter and voters do not come out, while April offers a full day of light). The Chief Election Commissioner remarked, "بسنت تو ویسے آپ منا رہے ہیں" (you are celebrating Basant anyway).
A member of the commission said the government had been talking about an April election. Express News also reported that a proposal was made to hold the polls on December 14. The Chief Election Commissioner said the request for a date after January 20 would be considered before the election date is announced.
Why it matters
The date set by the commission decides when voters across Punjab go to the polls for local government. The Punjab government, which says its preparations are complete, and the province's voters are directly affected. Weather and daylight in winter were among the points raised in the hearing.
