ECP excludes 12 K-P districts from local government polls

Directs preparation of election, delimitation schedules

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday ordered local government (LG) elections to be held immediately in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) districts where delimitation has been completed, excluding areas covered by special emergency measures.

The commission directed its relevant wing to submit the election programme for approval in districts where the delimitation process has been completed. It also ordered the issuance of delimitation schedules for districts where the process remains incomplete.

A five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan, announced the decision on Wednesday after reserving its verdict a day earlier.

The K-P authorities had sought a delay in LG elections, citing the law and order situation, the imposition of emergency and the deployment of troops under Article 245 of the Constitution.

The federal government imposed emergency measures in K-P on October 11 and placed the province under governor's rule.

Under its order, the ECP excluded Bannu, Mohmand, Orakzai, Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan from the districts for which the election programme is to be prepared. It also excluded Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Lower South Waziristan and Upper South Waziristan from the delimitation schedule.

The ECP directed its office to adjust the number of village and neighbourhood councils and determine category-wise reserved seats for each tehsil council in Karak, Hangu, Swat, Bar Swat, Battagram, Paharpur and Allai in accordance with existing revenue boundaries.

The measure is intended to facilitate timely delimitation and elections in districts not covered by the special arrangements. The ECP invoked Articles 218(3), 140A(2), 219(d), 220 and 222 of the Constitution, along with Sections 219 and 221 of the Elections Act 2017, in issuing the directions.

LG elections in K-P have remained pending since the terms of existing local bodies expired, with the first phase ending in March 2026 and the second in June 2026.