Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has formally appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to personally step in and secure a written request from the federal government to hold local government elections in cantonment boards. The request comes as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) faces a deadlock over procedural delays from the Ministry of Defence, despite having completed delimitation for all 42 cantonment boards. Main Developments Under Article 140-A (2) and 219(d) of the Constitution, read with Section-219 of the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP is constitutionally obligated to conduct local government elections in provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory, and cantonment areas. The last elections for cantonment boards were held on September 12, 2021, and their term expired on April 11, 2026. Section-219 (4) of the Elections Act, 2017, mandates that elections must be held within 120 days of the term's expiry. The ECP completed delimitation of all 42 cantonment boards on April 20, 2026, and has declared itself “all set” to proceed with polling. Read also: Why Balochistan's Operation Shaban signals a tougher phase in counterterrorism However, Section-19D(2) of the Cantonments Act, 1924, requires the federal government to send a formal written request to the ECP before an election programme can be issued. The ECP held a consultative meeting with the Director General of Military Lands and Cantonments (ML&C) and the Additional Secretary of Defence on April 15, 2026, asking the ministry to initiate a summary for this request. Despite follow-up letters on May 14, June 3, and June 16, 2026, the ECP has received no positive response. The additional secretary of defence informed the commission that the summary had been sent to the Prime Minister's Office, but no further action has been taken. Background The 42 cantonment boards are spread across the country: 20 in Punjab, 11 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8 in Sindh, and 3 in Balochistan. Key cantonments include Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta. The Ministry of Defence had earlier suggested, in an April 15 meeting, that the ECP consult the federal government to finalize a date for the elections. The ECP has now summoned Secretary of Defence retired Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali and Director General of ML&C Major General Jawwad Ahmed Qazi to appear on July 21 over non-compliance of its directions. This marks an escalation in the commission's efforts to enforce its constitutional mandate. Why It Matters Delays in holding local government elections in cantonments affect millions of residents living in these areas, who are denied representation in matters of civic services, infrastructure, and local taxation. The stalemate also tests the ECP's authority against federal ministries, raising questions about the separation of powers and the timely implementation of constitutional obligations. With the 120-day deadline approaching, failure to act could lead to legal challenges and further erosion of public trust in electoral processes. The involvement of the prime minister underscores the political sensitivity of the issue, as cantonment boards fall under the defence ministry's purview. What's Next The ECP has fixed a hearing for July 21, where the secretary of defence and DG ML&C are expected to explain their position. The commission's letter to the prime minister seeks a directive to the defence ministry to submit the formal written request without further delay. If the request is issued, the ECP can immediately announce an election schedule, including dates for nomination, scrutiny, and polling.