Election Commission of Pakistan building in Islamabad. Photo: Radio Pakistan
RAWALPINDI:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has suspended preparations for local government elections in the remaining districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following a federal government order extending the suspension of Article 140-A of the Constitution.
Furthermore, the electoral watchdog set February 7, 2027, for the first phase of local government elections in Punjab.
The twin developments came as the commission reviewed the implications of the federal government’s latest order for the electoral process in K-P and considered the Punjab government’s request to reschedule local government elections.
While the suspension of Article 140-A has made it impossible to proceed with local polls in the remaining K-P districts, the commission accepted Punjab’s request to hold elections in February instead of the previously discussed December-January period.
According to an ECP press release issued on Thursday, the commission had earlier decided to hold local government elections in K-P, except in those districts where Article 140-A had been suspended following the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency. Preparations for the electoral exercise had also been initiated.
However, at a meeting held on Thursday, the commission took up the federal government’s order issued a day earlier. The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The commission examined Clause 2 of the order in detail, under which Article 140-A of the Constitution had been suspended, with the measure extended to all remaining districts of the province apart from those already designated under the earlier order.
During a briefing, the commission was informed that Article 140-A provides for the establishment of local governments in the provinces, while Subsection (2) assigns the ECP the constitutional responsibility of conducting local government elections.
The commission subsequently examined the possible implications of the wider suspension of the constitutional provision for the ongoing electoral process in K-P. After deliberations, it concluded that holding local government elections in the remaining districts of the province was no longer possible in view of the federal government’s order.
Consequently, all steps taken so far for holding the elections were ordered to be suspended until further notice.
Punjab polls scheduled for Feb 7
Separately, the ECP issued a brief order in the case concerning local government elections in Punjab, fixing February 7, 2027, for the first phase of polling.
The matter was heard by a four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. During the proceedings, the Punjab chief secretary briefed the commission that the provincial government had earlier agreed to hold local government elections between December 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.
However, following consultations by the Punjab cabinet committee, it was recommended that the elections be held in April 2027 instead, citing smog, dense fog, adverse weather conditions, the month of Ramazan and the unavailability of schoolteachers during the proposed period.
Taking these factors into account, the provincial government had requested the ECP to schedule the local government elections in April 2027.
The government has now sought to hold the elections in January or February 2027, arguing that weather conditions improve in February.
According to the commission’s order, the chief secretary requested that the election date preferably be fixed after January 20, 2027. He also urged the commission to conduct the elections in phases in view of weather conditions and administrative convenience.
The ECP observed that ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with the law, while providing a level playing field to all contestants, was its responsibility.
After considering the Punjab government’s request, the commission accepted the chief secretary’s plea in the interest of justice and decided that the first phase of local government elections in the province would be held on February 7, 2027.
The commission also directed its secretariat to take the necessary follow-up action.
