ECP announces verdict on KP local government elections

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced its reserved verdict on local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, directing that polls be held in districts where the delimitation of constituencies has been completed.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja read out the decision, according to which the ECP secretariat has been directed to submit the election schedule to the commission for approval of the polling programme.

Under the decision, local government elections will not be held in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Mohmand, Orakzai and North Waziristan districts.

The commission has also directed its secretariat to issue a delimitation schedule for the remaining districts where the process has yet to be completed, paving the way for local government elections in areas that meet the required conditions.

However, the ECP has ordered that no delimitation schedule be issued for Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bajaur, Kurram and South Waziristan, which have been identified as districts facing emergency situations.

The decision outlines a district-specific approach to the electoral process, allowing preparations to proceed in areas where constituency delimitation has been completed while excluding certain districts from the current process.

The ECP secretariat will now submit the proposed election programme for approval, while further delimitation arrangements will be made in the eligible districts in accordance with the commission’s directions.

The decision is expected to determine the next steps towards local government elections across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the electoral process proceeding according to the status of delimitation and the restrictions imposed on the specified districts.