Election Commission postpones local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, decides to hold them in phases in Punjab

A meeting chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner reviewed the federal government’s Order No. 3 regarding KP, ordered to stop district election measures in the province, will challenge the decision of the commission, Local Council Association

The request of the Chief Secretary of Punjab to hold elections in phases was accepted, the date of the first phase of local government elections in the province was set for February 7, 2027, necessary instructions were issued

         Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to stop the ongoing process of local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until further notice. On Thursday, a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja reviewed the situation of local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the impact of the new order of the federal government. According to the Election Commission, the federal government has suspended Article 140-A of the Constitution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through an order dated November 4. The said article is related to the establishment of local governments in the provinces, while under its sub-clause 2, the holding of local government elections is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission. The Election Commission was informed that the new order of the federal government has been extended to all other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in addition to the previously specified districts. The meeting reviewed in detail the impact of the suspension of Article 140-A on local government elections. According to the Election Commission, due to the federal government’s order, it was not possible to hold local government elections in the remaining districts of the province. The Election Commission decided to stop all the steps taken so far in relation to local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and suspended the election process until further orders. According to the Election Commission spokesperson, due to the federal government’s order, it was not possible to hold local government elections in the province, in view of which the election process will remain suspended until further orders.

         Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has fixed February 7, 2027, as the date for the first phase of local body elections in Punjab. A four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case related to the holding of local body elections in Punjab. During the hearing, the Punjab government’s request to hold the local body elections in January or February 2027 was reviewed. The Punjab government had earlier recommended holding the elections in April 2027. During the hearing, the Punjab government took the position that the holding of the elections may face difficulties due to smog, severe fog, bad weather conditions and the month of Ramadan, while the unavailability of school teachers for the electoral process was also considered a major obstacle. The Election Commission, considering the request of the Punjab government and the reasons presented, decided to hold the first phase of local body elections in the province on February 7, 2027. 

         On the other hand, the Local Council Association has decided to approach the Constitutional Court against the decision to postpone the local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Chairman of the Local Council Association Himayatullah Mayar said that Article 140(A) is not suspended, but postponing the elections on this basis is against the constitution and law. The Election Commission's position on the decision to postpone the local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is that local government elections cannot be held due to the suspension of Article 140(A) after the imposition of emergency in 12 districts, while the Local Council Association has termed this decision as against the constitution and law, saying that local government elections were held in the country even when martial law was imposed in the country and the constitution was suspended. Chairman Himayatullah Mayar said that whenever political governments came to power, local government elections were not held. Despite being democratic parties, the PPP and the PML-N are avoiding local government elections. He said that it has been more than 6 years since local government elections were held in Punjab, while local government governments were extended in Sindh. Local government elections are not being held in Balochistan either, and now local government elections have been postponed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well. Himayatullah Mayar said we have consulted lawyers and will challenge this decision in the Constitutional Court.

Election Commission of Pakistan