ECP proposes amendment to Article 140A to ensure timely LG polls

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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday proposed amending Article 140A to ensure holding local government elections.

Under this article, the provincial governments have the authority to amend the laws of the local government, which delays the local government elections.

The proposal was broadcast by the Election Commission Secretary, Omar Hameed Khan during a meeting with the delegation of Jamaat -e -Islami, under the leadership of Loyate Baloch, visited the ECP Secretariat here. Visitors were briefed on the request for electronic voting machine (EVM), biometric verification machine (BVM), proportional representation system in the elections and delay in local government elections in Punjab province and delay in the federal capital of Islamabad.

According to an ECP spokesman, the Secretary Election Commission told the delegation that if political parties want to hold timely local elections, amendment to Article 140A is inevitable.

The delegation was also briefed on the legal aspects of the use of (EVMs) and (BVM) and were told about the steps taken by the Election Commission. He was also told that the Election Commission was not against the use of technology in the elections. However, it was emphasized that consensus and monitoring of all stakeholders must be consulted before the use of technology. Further, high -level testing is needed before using technology on a whole scale. Similarly, this technology should be such that it is reliable and reliable by all political parties.

Briefing the delegation on proportional representation, it was stated that the responsibility of the Election Commission was to hold elections according to the constitution and the law. Changing the electoral system is the prejudice of Parliament, so if the constitution or the law is changed, the Election Commission will hold elections accordingly.

In addition, on the date of local government elections in Punjab and Islamabad, the delegation was told that no government was ready to hold local government elections. After a lot of effort, the delegation was told that the Election Commission had succeeded in holding elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan (other than Quetta) and camps. So far, the Quetta District case is pending in the Balochistan High Court and under Section 219 of the Election Act 2017, the Election Commission is obliged to hold elections under the rules of the present local government. Therefore, if a government changes the law of the local government, the Election Commission is obliged to implement it. The delay in holding local elections in Islamabad and Punjab is due to the fact that the previous governments have repeatedly amended the laws of the local government.

The delegation was told that whenever the Election Commission completes the demarcation, and when it is ready for the elections, the laws of the local government are changed. Moreover, the Election Commission has so far banned Punjab four times in Punjab. Similarly, the Election Commission has so far banned five times for local government elections in Islamabad. The election schedule was also given, but due to the amendment of the election rules, the elections could not be held.

The election program for Punjab elections was announced in April 2022. In which the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court filed the case and the case is still being heard. It was pointed out that the provincial government is now preparing for a new legislation. And due to the delay in the elections, the matter is scheduled for hearing in the Election Commission on May 29, 2025. The delegation was told that the Supreme Court is hearing the case on June 2 and the Election Commission believes that the legislation process is not completed until the election program is announced. Therefore, the Election Commission will ensure immediate holding of elections in Islamabad.