Poll Body Urges Premier Shehbaz to Clear Way for Cantonment Local Elections

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting his personal intervention to secure a formal written request from the federal government for holding local government elections in the cantonments.

In the letter, the CEC stated that under Article 140-A (2) and 219(d) of the Constitution, together with Section 219 of the Elections Act 2017, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) carries a constitutional and legal duty to organize and conduct local government polls in the provinces, the Islamabad Capital Territory, and cantonment areas.

The CEC noted that the previous local government elections in cantonment boards took place on September 12, 2021, and the tenure of all 42 cantonment boards ended on April 11, 2026.

As per Section 219(4) of the Elections Act 2017, the ECP is required by law to hold elections within 120 days of a board’s term expiring.

Term of 42 cantonment boards expired on April 11; delimitation process already completed

The ECP confirmed that delimitation for all 42 cantonment boards was finalized on April 20, 2026, and the commission is fully prepared to conduct the polls.

Citing Section 19D(2) of the Cantonments Act 1924, the letter explained that the federal government must submit a formal written request to the ECP to launch the election schedule, covering nomination filing, scrutiny, symbol allocation, and polling dates.

The CEC added that the ECP held consultations with the Director General of Military Lands and Cantonments (ML&C) and the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence on April 15, 2026, and asked the ministry to move a summary for the required request.

In follow-up, the ECP issued a letter on May 14, 2026, a reminder on June 3, 2026, and a D.O. letter on June 16, 2026, to the Defence Secretary.

“However, no positive response has been received so far,” the letter stated, noting that the defence additional secretary indicated the summary had been forwarded to the PM Office.

“Keeping in view the facts above, it is requested that your excellency may personally intervene in this important matter related to public interest,” the CEC wrote, pressing the premier to order the written request so the ECP can issue the election programme and meet its constitutional obligation.

In a separate move, the ECP has summoned Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Muhammad Ali and DG ML&C Maj Gen Jawwad Ahmed Qazi over failure to comply with directions on cantonment local polls.

A cause list from the ECP shows both officials have been called for a hearing set for July 21.

Of the 42 cantonments, 20 lie in Punjab: Rawalpindi, Chaklala, Taxila, Wah, Attock, Kamra, Sanjwal, Jhelum, Mangla, Kharian, Murree Hills, Sargodha, Shorkot, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Walton, Okara, Multan and Bahawalpur.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts 11: Peshawar, Nowshera, Cherat, Risalpur, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Abbottabad, Havelian and Murree Gallies. Sindh has eight: Pano Aqil, Hyderabad, Karachi, Clifton, Manora, Malir, Faisal and Korangi Creek.

Balochistan contains three: Quetta, Loralai and Zhob. At the April 15 meeting, the defence ministry suggested the ECP consult the federal government to fix a date for the cantonment LG elections.

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