Quetta, December 8, 2025: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), requesting the postponement of the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC) elections, originally scheduled for December 28.
According to sources, Bugti cited the precarious law and order situation, suspension of internet services, and migration due to harsh winter conditions as reasons that could affect voter turnout in the provincial capital.
Earlier, the Balochistan government had requested the ECP to delay the elections on similar grounds, but the request was denied. Preparations for the polls, including the printing of ballot papers, are already underway.
The petition comes after the Balochistan High Court (BHC), on October 6, rejected multiple petitions seeking postponement and directed the ECP to conduct the elections as soon as possible. Following the BHC directive, the ECP announced the election schedule on November 13, covering 172 union councils and 641 wards, with 2,710 candidates contesting in Quetta district.
The previous local bodies in Quetta, elected in 2015, completed their tenure on January 27, 2019. Under the Elections Act 2017, local government elections should be held within 120 days of term expiry. However, the polls were delayed and eventually conducted in May 2022, over three years after the previous term ended.
The delay in Quetta, as well as in Lasbela, was primarily due to political disagreements over amendments to the Balochistan Local Government Act (BLGA) 2010 and issues concerning the delimitation of wards. While Lasbela elections were held at the end of 2022, litigation in the BHC has prevented Quetta’s elections from taking place.
