The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday summoned Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and issued a contempt notice to the interior secretary amid ongoing delays in holding local government elections in Islamabad and Punjab. The actions come as the ECP seeks to compel cooperation from government officials to finalize delimitation processes and address legal requirements for the polls.
Islamabad Local Government Elections Stalled
The ECP summoned Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi after the interior secretary failed to appear before the commission. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja warned that if the secretary continued to be absent, the minister would be summoned in his personal capacity at the next hearing.
ECP officials informed the bench that a letter had been sent to the interior ministry, but no response had been received, and that the interior secretary was not cooperating. The CEC subsequently ordered the issuance of a contempt notice to the interior secretary.
Officials stated that a demarcation notification, Islamabad’s official map, and the number of union council members are required before the delimitation process can begin. The CEC noted that the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration appeared to be taking the matter lightly, emphasizing that the elections are the direct responsibility of the ICT.
The CEC warned authorities not to force the commission to take strict action and directed them to provide a clear timeline. The case was adjourned until next Tuesday, with the Islamabad chief commissioner asked to present progress at the next hearing.
Punjab Local Government Election Delays
The commission also heard a separate matter regarding delays in local government elections in Punjab. Punjab Chief Secretary and the Secretary Local Government appeared before the commission.
The ECP’s special secretary informed the bench that the commission had constituted a committee and held several meetings on the issue. While the commission has the Punjab local government law and the delimitation framework, the provincial government still needs to provide the local government election rules and demarcation maps.
The CEC asked whether the delimitation exercise could begin immediately, and the Punjab’s secretary of local government told the commission that deputy commissioners had been directed to provide the required maps within two to three days, with district election commissioners receiving them within a week.
ECP officials said the delimitation process would take around two months once the maps are received. The CEC granted Punjab a final one-week deadline, directing all deputy commissioners to provide the maps by March 12. If the maps are not provided, the commission will hold a formal hearing and summon deputy commissioners from each division, potentially holding daily hearings.
The ECP has been seeking cooperation from the federal government and the Islamabad administration for several months to complete the legal and administrative requirements for the Islamabad polls. Under the Islamabad Local Government Act, 2015 – amended in 2024 – further amendments are required in Section 15 of the law to facilitate the electoral process. The commission directed the interior ministry and the Islamabad administration to finalize proposed amendments in consultation with the commission under Section 219(3) of the Elections Act, 2017.
The last correspondence received from the interior ministry on the issue was dated October 23, 2025.
The issue of delayed local government elections in Punjab has also been under scrutiny. In December, the provincial government informed the Lahore High Court that the upcoming polls would be held on a party basis under Section 68 of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025, during hearings on a petition challenging the law. The ECP also took notice of the provincial government’s failure to complete legal and administrative requirements for the polls despite earlier assurances in January.
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