By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election commission has postponed by-elections in nine constituencies in Punjab province, overwhelmed by catastrophic flooding that has left dozens dead, millions displaced and rescue efforts stretched thin across the region.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the delay on Thursday, pointing to extensive damage from a relentless monsoon season that has ravaged Pakistan and neighboring India. The move affects five National Assembly seats and four provincial assembly seats, where voting could not proceed amid destroyed infrastructure, voter displacement and shortages of polling staff and security forces diverted to relief work.
The constituencies include NA-66 (Wazirabad), NA-96 (Faisalabad-II), NA-104 (Faisalabad-X), NA-129 (Lahore-XIII) and NA-143 (Sahiwal-III) in the National Assembly; and PP-73 (Sargodha-III), PP-87 (Mianwali-III), PP-98 (Faisalabad-I) and PP-203 (Sahiwal-VI) in the provincial assembly.
The ECP cited severe disruptions to Punjab’s communication networks from the “unprecedented floods,” along with broader damage to connectivity and public facilities. With civil and law enforcement agencies focused on evacuations and aid, officials reported a lack of available polling personnel. The provincial government had requested the postponement.
“The commission by taking into consideration the issues highlighted herein above has come to the conclusion that due to non-availability of polling staff, requisite number of law-enforcing personnel, damage of infrastructure, disenfranchisement of voters due to displacement, election cannot be ensured with the optimum level of security as mandated under Article 218(3) of the Constitution,” the ECP said in a statement.
The commission said it would restart the process once conditions improve.
Fueled by heavy Himalayan and local rains, the floods have inundated farms, homes and highways in Pakistan, with major rivers bursting their banks. Swollen rivers have prompted India to release dam water, worsening downstream flooding. Pakistan anticipates more rain through Sept. 9, compounding a monsoon that has killed 880 nationwide.
New Delhi has sent seven warnings to Islamabad about dam gate openings, three in the past day, Pakistani officials said. Irfan Ali Kathia, director-general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), told Reuters that three Pakistani rivers have been hit by the extra flow from Indian dams. The shared rivers cross the Punjab regions of both countries — agricultural heartlands now facing the worst floods in years.
In Punjab, the PDMA reported 46 deaths, with over 3,900 villages affected. More than 3.8 million people have been impacted, and 1.8 million rescued. Authorities have set up over 400 relief camps, 444 medical camps and 395 veterinary camps in stricken districts.
Punjab Commerce Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said inflows from Azad Kashmir had devastated Gujrat City, where crews worked nonstop to curb losses. Protective embankments at villages Loran and Madina Syedan failed under the torrent, with overnight repairs in progress.
“We are trying our best to reduce the damage caused by this calamity,” Hussain told reporters, noting a temporary canal under construction to divert water from Gujrat into the Chenab River.
In Multan, Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sindhu reported rising Chenab River levels flooding the Akbar Flood Dam, Sher Shah headworks and nearby villages. On a Wednesday inspection of the Chenab River Bridge and Sher Shah embankment, he was briefed on the crisis.
“The situation is likely to worsen due to the joining of the Ravi River to the Chenab,” Sindhu said. “It was crossing level 414 at Greywala Chowk until late at night, which shows a rising trend.”
He said officials were prepared to breach the embankment at Head Muhammad Wala if needed. “Saving human lives in populated areas from floods is the most important thing,” Sindhu said. The district has moved a record 400,000 residents to safety.
The disaster has prompted global concern. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres voiced deep sorrow over the floods in northern Pakistan, which have killed more than 400 and displaced millions.
In a statement from his spokesperson, Guterres praised Pakistani officials for evacuating over a million in Punjab and offered condolences to victims’ families.
The U.N. and partners are collaborating with Pakistan’s government to evaluate needs and fill response gaps. U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $600,000 from the Regional Humanitarian Pooled Fund, with talks ongoing for a full plan.
Guterres “reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity with the government as well as the people of Pakistan, underscoring the urgent need to support those affected and to strengthen resilience against climate-induced disasters,” the statement said.
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