ISLAMABAD — The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued another stern warning to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government and federal authorities regarding continuous delays in holding local government elections. A four-member ECP bench, headed by Sindh Member Nisar Ahmed Durrani, directed both administrations to submit all outstanding delimitation notifications before the next formal hearing scheduled for July 28. The election watchdog previously censured both governments on July 1, cautioning that creating further obstacles for local polls would carry serious legal consequences.
Years of Delays Impact Millions of Citizens
The ongoing delays have left millions of citizens without grassroots representation. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the four-year term of local governments expired on March 15, 2026. Meanwhile, the local government term in Islamabad has been vacant since February 2021 under various administrative pretexts. This prolonged delay leaves roughly 2.5 million residents in the federal capital without local representatives to address basic civic infrastructure failures, including severe water shortages and unpaved streets.
The ECP bench emphasized that failing to assist the commission constitutes a direct violation of Article 220 of the Constitution. While the KP chief secretary confirmed that mapping and delimitation are complete for 23 districts, notifications for eight remaining districts—including Karak, Swat, and Buner—remain stalled due to pending provincial assembly legislation. To move the process forward, the ECP has organized a consultative meeting on July 14 to officially announce the poll dates for the 23 completed districts.
Capital Territory Awaits Cabinet Approval
In the federal capital’s case, Islamabad’s chief commissioner reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has allowed a summary regarding town corporation limits and union council counts to be circulated for cabinet approval. However, the ECP noted that it is still waiting on three essential items, including the final notification of town limits, authenticated maps, and specific local government amendment legislation. The ECP has adjourned hearings for both regions until July 28 to review final administrative compliance.
