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Punjab Local Government Elections Face Delimitation Setback
Punjab Local Government Elections have encountered a fresh legal hurdle after the Lahore High Court restrained authorities from issuing the gazette notification for the delimitation of two union councils in Multan.
Justice Jawad Hassan, while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Nadeem, emphasized that electoral delimitation must protect voters’ rights and maintain transparency throughout the election process.
The court’s six-page ruling concerns Union Councils 3 and 4 in Multan and places a temporary halt on the issuance of their delimitation notification. The court has also sought responses from the Election Commission of Pakistan and other parties.
LHC Halts Delimitation Notification
The petition challenged an order issued on July 29, 2026, by the Regional Election Commissioner/Delimitation Authority Multan.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the preliminary delimitation for Union Councils 3 and 4 had been published on May 25. Under the applicable procedure, objections were required to be submitted within the prescribed period.
According to the petitioner, the deadline for filing objections expired on June 9. However, Respondent No. 7 allegedly submitted objections on June 17.
The counsel contended that the Delimitation Authority subsequently accepted those objections and altered the proposed boundaries despite the alleged delay. The petitioner therefore asked the court to set aside the authority’s decision.
The development comes as the Election Commission moves toward completing the broader delimitation exercise for Punjab’s long-delayed local government elections. The ECP had earlier said it was ready to proceed with the polls after completion of the delimitation process.
Dispute Over Objections
During the proceedings, the Assistant Attorney General also questioned the maintainability of the petition.
Justice Jawad Hassan, however, stressed that delimitation has a direct connection with the constitutional right to vote and the integrity of the electoral process.
The court’s observations underline the importance of ensuring that constituency boundaries are not altered in a way that unfairly affects voters or political stakeholders.
Court Defines Principles for Delimitation
The judgment makes clear that delimitation should not be viewed simply as the drawing of boundaries on a map.
According to the court, the exercise is intended to protect the value of the vote and ensure that electoral constituencies are formed through objective and transparent criteria.
The ruling identifies several factors that should be considered when determining boundaries, including population, geographical contiguity, administrative boundaries, communication facilities, public convenience and the common interests of residents.
These principles are particularly significant as Punjab prepares for local government elections after years of delays. The province’s local government framework was revised through the Punjab Local Government Act 2025, while the ECP initiated a fresh delimitation exercise in 2026.
Neutrality and Voter Rights
The Lahore High Court stressed that delimitation must remain an impartial administrative and electoral exercise.
The court cautioned against drawing boundaries in a manner that could favor or disadvantage a particular political party. Such practices, the judgment noted, could undermine public confidence in the transparency of elections.
The issue is particularly important given the long history of delays surrounding local government elections in Punjab. The province’s elected local governments last completed their terms in December 2021, with successive legal and administrative changes contributing to repeated delays.
The ECP had previously announced that the final delimitation process would pave the way for the election schedule, with the commission saying it was ready to conduct the polls once the necessary legal and administrative steps were completed.
Notices Issued to ECP and Other Parties
The Lahore High Court has restrained the authorities from issuing the gazette notification for the delimitation of Multan’s Union Councils 3 and 4.
The court issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan and other respondents and directed them to submit their responses by August 25.
The order introduces another legal issue into the process of organizing Punjab’s local government elections. The outcome of the proceedings could determine whether the disputed delimitation is maintained or requires further review before the electoral process moves forward.
For the ECP, the case comes at a critical stage as it seeks to complete the legal groundwork for long-delayed local government polls across Punjab.see more Pulse Pakistan
