ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday rejected Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s petition seeking the postponement of local government elections in Quetta, reaffirming that polling for the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation will take place on December 28 as scheduled.
Bugti had approached the ECP on December 8, citing concerns over the law and order situation in the provincial capital, harsh weather conditions and ongoing internet suspensions. In its written order, however, the commission dismissed the plea as “devoid of force,” noting that the issues raised did not legally justify the postponement.
A six-member bench heard the petition, with one member, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, dissenting. Jatoi supported delaying the polls, citing severe winter conditions that he said could suppress voter turnout and the broader security environment in Balochistan.
In its written order today, seen by Dawn, the ECP said the plea was being rejected for “being devoid of force” and that the electoral body had decided to hold local government elections in Quetta on the already scheduled date of December 28. https://t.co/vwsuYYtB5O
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 10, 2025
The majority decision directed the provincial government and all relevant departments to fully assist the ECP and ensure “foolproof security arrangements” for voters, polling staff, candidates and the public. The commission emphasised that preparations were at an advanced stage, including the printing of most ballot papers.
Responding to concerns about constituency delimitation, the ECP stressed that the process had been completed strictly according to legal requirements, including the publication of preliminary lists, public objections and hearings. It recalled that the Balochistan High Court, in an October 10 ruling, had already dismissed petitions challenging delimitation and instructed the commission to conduct the polls without delay.
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The order further clarified that the term of local councils in Balochistan expires in 2027, rejecting the chief minister’s claim regarding the tenure’s end. It noted that councillors of municipal bodies took oath on February 9, 2023, while district council representatives assumed office on July 6, 2023.
The commission also pointed to a 2021 Supreme Court decision involving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the court upheld the ECP’s authority to proceed with elections despite provincial reservations related to weather and security.
Local government polls in Quetta have faced repeated delays over delimitation disputes. While elections were held in most districts in May 2022, Quetta’s polls were postponed due to ongoing litigation. Under the current schedule, elections will be held in 172 union councils and 641 wards, with 2,710 candidates in the running.
