Accepting the Punjab government’s request, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ruled that the first phase of local bodies (LBs) elections in Punjab will commence on February 7.  

The provincial government had requested the ECP to allow it to hold the polls either in January of February. 

The chief secretary had sought the election commission’s permission to hold the elections in phases.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reserved its verdict on the request made by the Punjab government in which it had prayed to the ECP to fix the date for holding local bodies’ elections in the province after January 20. 

A four-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case. 

Punjab Local Bodies’ Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, chief secretary (CS) and secretary local commission appeared before the bench.

Speaking on the occasion, the CEC said that at a meeting held between the provincial cabinet committee and the election commission, the Punjab government had assured that it would hold the LB polls between December 15 and January 15.

The chief secretary told the bench that the Punjab government had made all preparations to hold the polls. “But this is our request to the ECP to give the date for elections after January 20,” he said, adding that in December, the province was engulfed by fog. “However, the weather is fine after January 20.”

The CS said that it was difficult for the ECP staff to make arrangements for the elections during December.

An ECP member reminded him that initially the provincial government was interested in holding the elections in April. 

The official told the bench that the government revisited its decision and reached the conclusion that it was safe to hold the polls in January or February.

He went on to say that actually April suited the Punjab government because there were school holidays during the month and there was also plenty of sunshine. “On the contrary, days are shorter during winters, making it hard for voters to come out of their homes.”

The CEC replied that the ECP would ponder over the provincial government’s request for holding the elections after January 20. “Later, we will fix the date for the polls,” he added.   

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