By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected an appeal by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti to postpone the long-delayed local government elections in Quetta, confirming that the polls would be held as scheduled on December 28.
These elections, originally due in 2022, have faced repeated delays over the past three years. In a written decision, the ECP noted that Bugti’s request to defer the elections had been formally submitted and subsequently dismissed.
The commission instructed the provincial government to ensure foolproof security and adequate logistical arrangements for voters, underscoring its constitutional mandate under Article 220, which obliges federal and provincial authorities to support the ECP in ensuring fair and independent elections.
Despite the ruling, dissenting voices emerged within the commission. Shah Muhammad Jatoi, an ECP member from Balochistan, submitted a note expressing concern over potentially low voter turnout.
