QUETTA: According to a notification issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), by-elections for vacant seats of chairmen and vice-chairmen in various local government institutions across Balochistan will be held on Thursday, 2 October 2025.
The elections will cover seats in the Municipal Committee of Surab, Union Council No. 22 Anjira Mehrabad, the Municipal Committee and Union Council No. 08 in Sherani, Union Councils No. 37 and 38 in Kech, as well as the District Council seats in Zhob.
To ensure transparent and impartial polling, Assistant Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, and District Education Officers of the respective districts have been appointed as Returning and Presiding Officers.
Furthermore, they have been granted the powers of First-Class Magistrates on 1 and 2 October, enabling them to take immediate legal action in case of any violation of electoral laws.
The ECP has directed all relevant officials and institutions to strictly enforce the code of conduct and guarantee peaceful, transparent elections.
Local government elections in Balochistan are often conducted in phases due to the province’s vast geography, administrative challenges, and scattered population.
These institutions, including municipal committees, district councils, and union councils, play a crucial role in delivering basic services such as water supply, sanitation, and local infrastructure development.
However, political instability and administrative delays have frequently left many seats vacant, necessitating by-elections.
The N-25 and other major highways that connect districts also highlight the logistical difficulties of election management in remote areas, where polling stations are often far apart.
In recent years, the Election Commission has placed special emphasis on empowering local governments to strengthen grassroots democracy and ensure better governance in underdeveloped regions of Balochistan.
ALSO READ: Khalid Magsi elected unopposed as BAP president in intra-party election
By-elections, such as those scheduled for October 2025, reflect efforts to fill gaps in representation and maintain the continuity of local bodies that serve as the first point of contact between citizens and the state.
