The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially withdrawn the delimitation schedule for Punjab local body elections after the Punjab Assembly passed the Local Government Act 2025. The new law was also approved by the Governor of Punjab, effectively repealing the previous Local Government Act 2022.
According to an official statement, the decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The ECP noted that with the enactment of the new law, the earlier notification for delimitation under the 2022 framework is no longer valid.
Earlier this month, the ECP had announced that local body elections in Punjab would be held in December 2025 under the old Local Government Act 2022. A five-member bench, led by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, had instructed that the delimitation of constituencies be completed within two months to prepare for elections. At that time, the ECP expressed concern over repeated delays, calling it “a matter of embarrassment” that elections were not being held in Islamabad and Punjab.
Political parties, including the PPP, had publicly urged the ECP to ensure timely elections in Punjab. The commission’s withdrawal of the previous delimitation schedule reflects the need to align electoral preparations with the updated legal framework provided by the Local Government Act 2025.
The ECP will now revise the delimitation process according to the new law and brief stakeholders once the updated schedule is finalized. This step ensures that the upcoming elections will follow current legislation while maintaining transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Officials say the ECP’s decision underscores its commitment to conducting elections in compliance with the latest legal provisions. Political analysts view this move as essential to address delays, legal gaps, and growing pressure from political parties and civil society.
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With the new law in effect, the ECP is expected to set a fresh schedule for Punjab local body elections, ensuring all constituencies are properly demarcated under the updated legal framework.
