ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday decided to hold the first phase of local government elections in Punjab on Feb 7, 2027, in view of fog and weather conditions, while polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were postponed until further orders.
ECP had initially proposed holding the elections on December 14 in Punjab. In KP, the polls were to be held across the province, excluding 12 districts where special emergency measures were in place.
Thursday’s decision was taken by a four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and comprising members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi and Babar Hassan Bharwana during a hearing on the conduct of local government elections in Punjab, a statement issued by the ECP said.
Chief secretary Punjab and Minister for Local Government and Community Development Zeeshan Rafique, along with the department’s secretary, appeared before the commission.
At the outset, the chief secretary apprised the commission that an earlier committee constituted by the Punjab government had held a meeting with the ECP, during which it was discussed and mutually decided that the elections would be conducted during the period from December to January.
He submitted that the provincial government was fully prepared to conduct elections in the province and all necessary arrangements in this regard had been completed. The requisite information and documents sought by the ECP regarding the appointment of returning officers and district returning officers had already been furnished, and no administrative impediment remained in the way of holding the elections.
He stated that the provincial government had no objection to the announcement of the election schedule.
The chief secretary, however, requested that the date of election preferably be fixed after Jan 20, 2027, in a phased manner, keeping in view weather conditions and administrative convenience, to ensure the smooth, transparent and orderly conduct of the electoral process.
He explained that December and January were generally marked by dense fog in Punjab, particularly Lahore, which may cause difficulties in transportation, movement and other election-related activities. He also highlighted the seasonal conditions and the importance of adequate daylight for the proper completion of polling arrangements.
He further informed the commission that the provincial government would be required to arrange transportation facilities and had also made arrangements for the availability of school buildings to be used as polling stations. He said the administration needed an additional two months to make the necessary arrangements and that conditions generally improve after Jan 20.
An ECP member pointed out that the provincial government had previously suggested holding elections in April.
Responding to the observation, the chief secretary said the government had reconsidered its position and had no objection to holding elections in January or February. However, he maintained that April would be more suitable because of longer daylight hours and school holidays.
He argued that shorter days and cold weather during winter could discourage voters from coming out to cast their ballots, while April would provide more favourable conditions.
The commission observed that the ECP is under obligation in terms of Articles 140A and 219(d) of the Constitution, read with Section 219 of the Elections Act, 2017, to hold local government elections in the provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory and the Cantonment Boards.
It also noted that it is the duty of the commission under Article 218(3) of the Constitution to organise and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against.
Keeping in view the constitutional provisions and to provide a level playing field to the contesting candidates and voters of the constituencies, the request made by the chief secretary was accepted in the interest of justice.
It was further decided that the first phase of local government elections in Punjab will be held with the polling date set as Feb 7, 2027.
The office was directed to take follow-up action accordingly.
The last local government elections in Punjab were held in 2015 under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013. Polling took place in phases between Oct and Dec 2015, and elected councils assumed office in 2017 after indirect elections for mayors and chairpersons. Since then, local body polls in Punjab have experienced repeated delays.
The PTI government had dissolved the elected local bodies in April 2019 before they completed their tenure. The move was later struck down by the Supreme Court, which restored them. They eventually completed their term on Dec 31, 2021.
Successive provincial governments repeatedly amended or replaced the Punjab Local Government Act. Each legislative change required the ECP to restart preparations, including delimitation and election planning. Changing laws and administrative delays by successive governments contributed significantly to the postponement of the local body elections.
Under Article 140A of the Constitution and the Elections Act, local government elections should be held within 120 days of the expiry of local bodies’ terms. Since the councils’ term ended in Dec 2021, elections were due by April 2022, but they have been repeatedly postponed.
Local govt polls halted in KP
Meanwhile, in KP, the ECP halted all preparations for local government elections until further orders after the federal government extended the suspension of Article 140-A of the Constitution to the entire province a day earlier, a statement issued by the commission said.
On Oct 28, ECP had decided to hold local government elections in KP, excluding 12 districts which were deemed to face intense security challenges and an Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) was formed to oversee them under emergency measures.
The council was formed after the federal government on Oct 11 imposed emergency in KP and placed the province under governor’s rule, taking note of the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.
The matter came up for discussion in a meeting of the commission, which was presided over by chief election commissioner. It took up Order No. 3 issued by the federal government on Nov 4, 2026 regarding the suspension of Article 140-A.
The meeting examined in detail Clause 2 of the order, under which Article 140-A of the Constitution has been suspended, and its application has been extended to all other districts besides the districts designated under the previous order, the statement said.
During the briefing to the commission, it was stated that Article 140-A of the Constitution relates to the establishment of local governments in the provinces, while under sub-clause (2) of the Article, holding local government elections is the constitutional responsibility of the ECP.
The commission reviewed in detail the possible impact of the suspension of Article 140-A in the remaining districts on the ongoing electoral process for local government elections in KP.
After deliberation, it was decided that in view of the said order, holding local government elections in the remaining districts of KP was no longer possible. Therefore, all steps taken so far for holding these elections have been stopped until further orders.
The post ECP sets Feb 7 as polling date for first phase of Punjab local govt elections; KP polls delayed appeared first on Dawn – Home.
