LAHORE: Due to the ongoing devastating floods across the region, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially deferred the scheduled by-elections for nine constituencies in Punjab.
An official notice from the ECP states that voting has been postponed for five seats in the National Assembly and four seats in the Punjab Assembly. Initially, the by-elections were set to take place following the disqualification of three PTI lawmakers and the death of MNA Mian Muhammad Azhar. The disqualified members included Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Opposition Leader of the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Bhachar, and MNA Ahmed Chattha. All three lost their seats after being convicted in cases related to the May 9 unrest.
The postponement has been primarily attributed to the severe flood emergency engulfing the province, which has hampered relief efforts and created logistical challenges. Rescue teams and authorities are currently engaged in relief operations, while transportation disruptions have hindered preparations for the electoral process.
According to the official statement, elections scheduled for NA-96 and NA-104 (Faisalabad), NA-129 (Lahore), and NA-143 (Sahiwal), along with provincial assembly seats PP-73 (Sargodha), PP-87 (Mianwali), PP-98 (Faisalabad), and PP-203 (Sahiwal), will be rescheduled at a later date.The decision was driven by multiple logistical hurdles, including damaged roads and bridges, as well as extensive destruction of public and private infrastructure such as schools and polling stations.The notification further mentioned that a new timetable for the Punjab by-elections will be announced once conditions improve.
Additionally, many Returning Officers (ROs) faced difficulties in finalizing polling staff recruitment due to issues of accessibility and displacement caused by the floods. This measure aims to uphold transparency and fairness in the electoral process once normalcy is restored. The postponement aligns with broader administrative responses to the flood crisis, which has also led to delays in Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) exams and caused widespread disruption to civic infrastructure.
