ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought report from all the four provinces for holding local government elections in the country and directed to give a fixed and final date for the purpose by Thursday.

The apex court also issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the provinces for holding the local government polls.

The directions were issued by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Shaukat Azmat Saeed during the hearing of Balochistan law and order situation case.

Justice Saeed, during the proceedings, remarked whether the government would give a date for holding these elections or the court should issue a date instead.

Upon this, the advocate general Punjab requested the court to give him time till tomorrow for filing a reply on behalf of the province. The chief justice remarked that cantonment board has given a date for holding their elections after orders by the court.

The bench suggested that local government elections should be conducted along with the cantonment board elections.

Meanwhile, during the hearing of routine case, the chief justice remarked that there was bright hope after the new government that peace would be maintained in Balochistan but the situation there was still the same.

The CJ further asked that police, Rangers, MI and FC are under the control of the government then what the factors not allowing peace in the province were.

He maintained that a couple of days ago another six people were killed in Balochistan and strike was being observed there.

Chief Secretary Balochistan apprised the court that no stone was left unturned to maintain law and order in the province and police was conducting raids in all the suspected areas. He further stated that as per other parts of the country, elections were held in Balochistan in a peaceful manner which was a great success.

However, he accepted that law and order situation in the province was still not satisfactory.

Later, the bench in its order sought report from the federation for maintaining peace and tranquility in Balochistan and other provinces and its cooperation in that regard.

The bench also sought date from the provinces for holding local government elections and adjourned further hearing till July 18.