ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government another three weeks to complete legislation related to the province’s local government elections.
A four-member commission, headed by ECP Member Sindh Nisar Durrani, heard the case concerning local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the hearing, the ECP’s Special Secretary informed the commission that the delimitation process in seven districts of the province was currently stalled.
The provincial government wants to hold local government elections across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa simultaneously. Officials said the province’s chief secretary had requested three weeks during the previous hearing to complete the required legislation.
Officials further informed the commission that a meeting of the provincial cabinet committee was held on August 31, during which the government directed officials to review local government systems in other provinces.
The Chief Secretary KP told the commission that the provincial cabinet committee was considering proposed amendments to the relevant law.
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A member of the commission from Balochistan expressed concern over the delay, saying the KP government appeared to be using delaying tactics. He warned that the commission might have to summon the chief minister if the delays continued.
Nisar Durrani remarked that local government elections would have to be held and said the commission had several constitutional options available to ensure the electoral process moved forward.
The ECP Member KP pointed out that if the law was amended, the delimitation process would have to be conducted again across the province.
The Special Secretary said that if the provincial government decided to hold the elections simultaneously, the ECP could conduct local government elections throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the same time.
After hearing the arguments, the Election Commission granted the KP government a further three weeks to complete the legislation and adjourned the hearing of the local government elections case until September 29, 2026.
