ECP notifies delimitation schedule for Quetta, Kharian cantonment boards after reclassification

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced delimitation schedules for the Quetta and Kharian cantonment boards after the federal government reclassified them. The Quetta Cantonment Board, previously Class-II, has now been upgraded to Class-I, while the Kharian cantonment board, formerly Class-III, has been raised to Class-II.

The ECP has determined the number of wards to be 10 in Quetta and five in Kharian. They have issued three notifications on October 29, setting an election period from November 2025 until January 2027. From November 2 to 4, administrative arrangements will be made, including map procurement and committee training. Preliminary ward lists will be prepared and published on November 20, inviting objections until December 20.

Objections can be submitted to delimitation authorities until January 5, 2027, after which decisions will be communicated by January 8. Final ward lists will be published on January 13. The Quetta East district election commissioner will lead the Quetta committee, with the Quetta additional cantonment executive officer and Quetta East assistant election commissioner as members.

For Kharian, the Gujrat district election commissioner will convene the committee, alongside the Kharian cantonment executive officer and Gujrat assistant election commissioner. The regional election commissioners of Gujranwala and Quetta will act as delimitation authorities to resolve objections. The ECP emphasized that officers assigned to delimitation shall not be transferred without prior approval.

This schedule follows the ECP's decision to fix a case on delayed provincial local government elections in cantonment boards, initially scheduled for October 28 and rescheduled to November 10. The ECP has notified the defense ministry secretary and the director general of the Military Lands and Cantonments Department. Despite reminders and a letter from the chief election commissioner to the prime minister, the federal government has yet to submit a formal request under Section 19D(2) of the Cantonments Act 2023.