ECP report states Punjab, Sindh govts have sought 15 and 30 days, respectively, to provide data and maps for carrying out delimitation
The Local Government (LG) elections may be delayed further due to non-cooperation of Punjab and Sindh governments with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in carrying out the process of delimitation, ECP officials say.
Despite two reminders, the two provincial governments did not provide data and authenticated maps to the commission for the delimitation process, they added.
Meanwhile, an ECP report submitted in the Supreme Court on Friday said that the Sindh government sought 30 days and Punjab government sought 15 more days for providing the data and authenticated maps for carrying out delimitation.
“ECP is committed to initiating the process of delimitation of local governments as early as possible after the receipt of notifications of demarcation of local areas, determination of number of councils/wards and authenticated maps from the Punjab and Sindh governments as well as amendments in the respective Act by the two provincial governments,” the report states.
The report adds that the commission on October 20 requested the Punjab government to provide a notification of demarcation of Local Governments and determination of number of Local Councils and Wards of Local Governments as required under sub-section (2) of Section 8 of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 but had not received any response.
In compliance with the court’s December 1 order, the commissions held a meeting with the representatives of the Punjab and Sindh governments and Cantonment Boards.
The Punjab local government secretary apprised the meeting that due to Muharram, the required notification, data and authenticated maps could not be provided, adding that the notification relating to demarcation of local governments and determination of number of local councils and wards of local governments, authenticated maps and other relevant data would be provided to the ECP within 15 days. The Sindh government sought 30 days for the same purpose.
The Punjab government agreed to enact required amendments in Punjab Local Governments Act 2013 through an ordinance within 15 days while the Sindh government sought 30 days to amend the Sindh Local Government Act 2013.
The report adds that the two provincial election commissioners have constituted committees to gather necessary material for delimitation. Necessary training relating to delimitation being imparted to the district election commissioners and election officers of Punjab and Sindh will be completed by the second week of January 2015, the report adds.
According to the report, a draft of the Rules has been prepared in accordance with Section 12 of the Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974 for consideration and approval of the ECP in its next meeting.
The commission will hold an exclusive meeting with Cantonment Board authorities to resolve anomalies noted in draft Cantonments (Amendment) Ordinance 2014, the report adds.
