ECP may summon PM, Punjab CM over local government polls delay

Asthe Centre and Punjab continue todragtheirfeet on local government polls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SikandarSultan Raja has warned that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz can be summoned in case the long overdue polls were not held.

- Tariq Butt

Heading a five-member bench of the Elec-tion Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which started hearing of the case related to the delay in the conduct of local elections in Islamabad and Punjab, he called for early completion of the local government lawsin Islamabad and Punjab.

Raja said it would be embarrassing for the government if the ECP issues an order. He declared that the ECP will issue an order at the next hearing for local government elections in Punjab.

He said the ECP cannot sit with its eyes closed as it wanted to see progress. The ECP will set the timeline itself without waiting for any input from Punjab, he said.