LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday wrote a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking clarification regarding the proposed method of conducting local government elections in Punjab. In his letter, PTI leader and Member of the Punjab Assembly Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood referred to his constitutional petition No. 68453/2025 currently pending before the Lahore High Court, in which the Election Commission has taken the position that the upcoming local government elections in Punjab will be held on a party basis. He pointed out that under the proposed structure; nine councillors are to be elected from a single Union Council, raising an important question about how a single political party symbol can be allocated to multiple candidates within the same constituency. He asked the Election Commission to clarify the legal and procedural framework governing nine candidates from the same political party contesting the election under a single party symbol. He noted that without clear rules, the process could create confusion for both voters and candidates. The MPA emphasised that transparency and clarity in the electoral process are essential for ensuring fair and credible local government elections. He urged the Election Commission to provide a written explanation of the mechanism and relevant rules governing party-based elections at the Union Council level. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026