ECP, K-P govt begin talks on schedule for local government elections in 23 districts

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday initiated consultations with the K-P government on the schedule for conducting overdue local government polls in 23 districts of the province.

The term of the LGs in K-P came to an end on March 15 this year. According to the K-P Local Government Act, 2013, representatives are elected to serve a term of four years.

In a press release issued by the spokesperson of the ECP, the commission conducted an important meeting regarding the schedule of elections. The meeting was presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and comprised of members of the ECP, secretary of the ECP, chief secretary of the K-P, provincial secretary for local government and other important officials of the provincial government and commission.

While speaking at the meeting, the chief election commissioner stressed the need for constituting local governments, pointing out that the conduct of local government elections was the constitutional obligation according to Article 140 of the Constitution.

"The commission will be obliged to hold the elections for local bodies in 120 days after the expiry of the term of the local governments as per Section 219(4) of the Elections Act," he said in his remarks.

The commission was informed that the term of local bodies in K-P had expired on March 14, 2026, and June 19, 2026, respectively.

It was also told by the ECP that it had completed the delimitation exercise in all the 23 districts of the province and was ready to conduct the election in the province.

Briefing the meeting, the K-P chief secretary said the provincial government had received the ECP's letter seeking consultations on the election schedule on July 8 and had immediately forwarded a summary to the provincial cabinet.

"We are administratively prepared to assist the Election Commission and make all necessary arrangements for the elections," he said.

The ECP asked the chief secretary to provide the commission with a copy of the summary.

The meeting decided that consultations on fixing the election date for the 23 districts would resume after 15 days, the ECP spokesperson said.