ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following a federal government notification suspending Article 140-A in the province, ARY News reported.
According to an ECP spokesperson, holding local government elections in KP is no longer possible due to the federal government’s notification.
The commission said Article 140-A had been suspended in the province under the federal government’s order.
The ECP further stated that the new notification had also been extended to all other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, apart from the districts already specified earlier.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has decided to hold the first phase of local government elections in Punjab on February 7, 2027, with polling to be conducted in phases across the province.
The decision was taken during a hearing of the Punjab local government elections case by a four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
During the proceedings, the Punjab chief secretary informed the commission that the provincial government had initially proposed holding local government elections in January or February 2027. However, the government later recommended April 2027 for the polls.
Explaining the proposed delay, the chief secretary cited smog, severe fog, adverse weather conditions, Ramadan and the unavailability of teachers for election duties.
However, the Election Commission decided to proceed with February 7, 2027, as the polling date, with elections to be held in multiple phases across Punjab.
