ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The Election Commission of Pakistan announced on Monday the schedule for local government elections in Punjab, but put off issuing the same for Sindh for the third time in 10 days.

The schedule for both the provinces was to be announced on Nov 29 under the ECP’s declared plan, but the date was changed to Dec 7 because of the failure of the two provinces to provide updated local government laws and rules and the notification of delimitation exercise.

Punjab informed the commission that it would complete the delimitation exercise by Dec 8. Sindh wanted a week to remove anomalies from laws and rules, pointed out by the commission but was asked to complete it by Dec 8.

Punjab met the requirement but Sindh failed again. But the ECP is still determined to hold the polls in Sindh and Punjab on Jan 18 and Jan 30, respectively, -- the dates given to the Supreme Court.

Briefing reporters after a meeting, Commission’s Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan said that Sindh had been given the last chance to meet the requirements by Dec 12 and the poll schedule would be announced on Dec 13.

When it was pointed out that the Sindh cabinet wanted the polls to be held in March, he said the provincial government would have to approach the Supreme Court to get the date changed.

He said the ECP would announce the schedule on Dec 13, to comply with the Supreme Court orders.

He said the Sindh government had also sought guidelines from the ECP.

“Though it is not for us to legislate or conduct delimitation and our mandate is limited to the conduct of polls, we agreed to informally assist the Sindh government and sent a team there on Dec 7.”

The team headed by Additional Secretary Syed Sher Afgan has presented its proposal but it is up to the Sindh government to accept or reject it.

Giving details of the schedule, he said a notice inviting nominations would be issued by returning officers on Dec 20 while nomination papers would be received from Dec 22 to Dec 27, and their list would be published on Dec 28. Objections will be invited on Dec 29.

The papers will be scrutinised between Dec 30 and Jan 4. Appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers will be filed on Jan 6 and 7 and disposed of between Jan 8 and 11. He said that Jan 12 would be the date for withdrawal of candidature and the final list of candidates with symbols allotted to them would be published the following day.

Polling will be held on Jan 30 and the results will be announced by returning officers on Feb 2.