KARACHI (The COW News Digital) The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the schedule for by-elections on 52 vacant local government seats across 19 districts of Sindh. These by-elections are scheduled to be held on September 24, 2025.
According to the notification issued by the Provincial Election Commissioner’s office in Sindh, the by-polls will be conducted in the districts of Shikarpur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, Naushahro Feroze, Dadu, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Matiari, Khairpur, Sujawal, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, and three districts of Karachi—Karachi West, Keamari, and Karachi East.
The election schedule outlines the key dates and procedures leading up to the polling day. Public notices from returning officers will be issued on August 20, while nomination papers will be received from August 21 to 23. The preliminary list of candidates will be published on August 25, followed by scrutiny of nomination papers from August 26 to 28.
Objections to nomination papers can be submitted from August 30 to September 2, and the final list of contesting candidates will be released on September 6. Candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers until September 8, while election symbols will be allotted on September 9.
The ECP has also appointed district returning officers and returning officers for the electoral process.
To ensure transparency and fairness, the commission has strictly prohibited the use of government resources or announcements of development projects in the concerned constituencies until the completion of the elections. Additionally, transfers and new appointments of government officials in the election-bound areas have been barred during this period.
The upcoming by-polls are seen as a critical test of political strength at the grassroots level for major parties in Sindh, especially as they come amid increasing political maneuvering ahead of the general elections expected next year.
The ECP urged all stakeholders, including political parties and candidates, to comply fully with the electoral code of conduct and warned of strict action against any violations. Security arrangements for polling day are expected to be finalized in coordination with local administrations and law enforcement agencies.
These elections are expected to fill essential governance gaps in several union councils, town committees, and municipal corporations across the province.
