The Election Commission of Pakistan postponed ECP by-elections in nine constituencies due to severe flooding disrupting infrastructure and voter access.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed by-elections in five National Assembly and four Punjab Assembly constituencies, citing widespread flooding across Pakistan that damaged polling infrastructure and displaced voters.
The postponement of ECP by-elections highlights the severe impact of climate-induced floods on Pakistan’s democratic processes, raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement and administrative challenges in a region increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters.
ECP By-Elections Disrupted by Floods
The ECP announced the indefinite postponement of by-elections scheduled for constituencies in Punjab, including NA-66 (Wazirabad), NA-96 and NA-104 (Faisalabad), NA-129 (Lahore), NA-143 (Sahiwal), and Punjab Assembly seats PP-73 (Sargodha), PP-87 (Mianwali), PP-97 (Faisalabad), and PP-203 (Sahiwal). The decision was driven by the ongoing flood crisis, which has caused significant damage to public and private infrastructure, including government schools and buildings designated as polling stations.
Reasons Behind the Postponement
According to an official ECP statement, the floods have rendered it “impossible” for civil administration and law enforcement agencies to manage election duties while engaged in rescue and relief operations. The commission noted that many voters in the affected areas have been displaced, risking low turnout and potential disenfranchisement if the polls proceeded as planned. However, the ECP has not released official figures on the number of displaced voters in the affected constituencies.
Infrastructure Damage
Heavy monsoon rains, starting June 26, 2025, have devastated infrastructure across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with over 9,000 homes damaged and 2,000 destroyed nationwide, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Polling stations, often located in government schools, have been repurposed as relief centres or damaged by floodwaters, making them unsuitable for electoral activities. The ECP highlighted that election record storage facilities have also been compromised.
Administrative Challenges
The Punjab government formally requested the ECP to postpone the by-elections, citing the strain on administrative resources. Civil servants and police personnel, typically responsible for election security and logistics, are currently deployed for flood relief operations. “The civil administration and law enforcement agencies are engaged in rescue and relief operations,” the ECP stated, underscoring the logistical impossibility of conducting polls under these conditions.
Voter Displacement
The floods have displaced millions, particularly in Punjab, where 3.8 million people have been affected, and 1.8 million have been relocated to 415 relief camps. This mass displacement has raised concerns about voter access, as many residents are unable to return to their constituencies to cast ballots. The ECP emphasized that proceeding with the by-elections would risk excluding large segments of the electorate, undermining the democratic process.
Political Context of the ECP By-Elections
The by-elections were necessitated by the disqualification of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers following their sentencing by antiterrorism courts in connection with the May 9, 2023, protests. The affected National Assembly seats include those previously held by PTI leaders in Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Sahiwal, while the Punjab Assembly seats were similarly vacated. The ECP had initially scheduled the polls for September 8, 2025, to fill these vacancies but has now deferred them until the flood situation stabilizes.
The postponement adds to the political tensions in Pakistan, with the PTI already clashing with the government over flood relief efforts in the National Assembly. The delay in ECP by-elections could further strain relations, as opposition parties may perceive it as a setback to their electoral strategy.
Background
Pakistan’s 2025 monsoon season has been among the deadliest in recent years, with 874 deaths reported nationwide as of September 5, 2025, according to NDMA data. The floods have compounded existing challenges, including the 2022 floods that caused USD 30 billion in damages and exposed gaps in disaster preparedness. The ECP’s decision aligns with previous instances where natural disasters disrupted elections, such as the 2010 floods, which delayed local government polls in several regions.
The disqualification of PTI lawmakers stems from legal actions following violent protests on May 9, 2023, which targeted government and military installations. The resulting vacancies have heightened political stakes, with the by-elections seen as a test of PTI’s influence in Punjab, a key electoral battleground.
What’s Next
The ECP has promised to issue a new schedule for the by-elections once flood conditions improve, likely after the monsoon season ends in mid-September 2025. The restoration of infrastructure and the return of displaced voters will be critical to ensuring a fair electoral process. The postponement of ECP by-elections underscores the need for robust disaster management to safeguard democratic participation in Pakistan.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 5th, 2025
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