Devastating floods prompt ECP to postpone by-elections in 9 Punjab constituencies

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to postpone the upcoming by-elections in nine constituencies of Punjab as the province grapples with devastating floods that have badly disrupted normal life and government operations.

According to a notification by the ECP, large-scale destruction of transport and communication networks, including roads, bridges, railway lines, electricity poles and mobile towers, along with damage to government offices and school buildings earmarked for polling stations, has made it impossible to proceed with the electoral process.

The commission explained that rescue and relief work in the affected districts has absorbed the full capacity of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies, leaving them unable to spare resources for election duties.

It said that many polling staff, most of whom are government employees, are already deployed in relief operations and cannot be reassigned.

District Returning Officers also reported the absence of polling personnel and requested replacements from other districts, but the disaster’s scale has left the administration unable to organize the elections as planned.

The provincial government formally sought the delay, pointing out that the crisis had diverted all available resources to emergency response.

After reviewing the matter in a meeting on September 4, 2025, the electoral body concluded that conducting polls under such conditions would disenfranchise voters and compromise the fairness and security of the process.

On these grounds, the ECP postponed by-elections in National Assembly constituencies including NA-66 Wazirabad, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore, and NA-143 Sahiwal, as well as in Provincial Assembly constituencies PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, PP-98 Faisalabad, and PP-203 Sahiwal.

The commission underlined that the move serves the public interest and assured that elections will be held once stability returns so that voter participation and security can be ensured.

Meanwhile, the flooding continues to cause destruction on a massive scale. At least 46 lives have been lost, and more than 3.7 million people have been affected. Around 1.8 million residents have been displaced after nearly 3,900 villages were submerged, a situation worsened by heavy monsoon rains and water releases from India.