The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday dismissed a request by the Balochistan government seeking postponement of local government elections in Quetta, reaffirming that the polls will be held on December 28 as scheduled.
In a written decision signed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the ECP declared the provincial government’s review petition “without legal weightage” and upheld its earlier verdict issued on November 3, 2025.
The commission directed the Balochistan government to provide full support for the conduct of municipal elections in the provincial capital. It also instructed authorities to ensure strict security arrangements for voters, polling staff and candidates.
The provincial government had earlier sought a delay in elections for the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC), but the ECP rejected the plea, stressing that preparations for the polls would proceed uninterrupted.
Local government elections in other districts of Balochistan were held three years ago, with the current bodies’ term set to expire in the next nine months.
According to the ECP, elections in Quetta will be held in 172 union councils and 641 wards, with 2,710 candidates contesting various seats across the district.
The previous local bodies in the province, elected in 2015, completed their tenure on January 27, 2019.
