ECP suspends local govt elections in KP until further orders

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday decided to suspend the process of holding local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until further orders, directing officials to immediately halt all election-related activities across the province.

The decision was announced following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

It cited the federal government’s Order No. 3, issued on November 4, and the suspension of constitutional provisions under the order, saying local government elections could not currently be held in any district of the province.

During the meeting, the commission reviewed the legal implications of the federal government’s order and the resulting constitutional situation after the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.

The ECP said that although holding free, fair and timely local government elections across the country was its fundamental constitutional responsibility, the suspension of the relevant constitutional provision by the federal government made polls impossible in any district of the KP.

The commission said all local government election activities in the province had been halted in view of the prevailing constitutional and administrative situation.

A decision on resuming the process or announcing a fresh schedule would be taken only after the legal hurdles had been removed.

Following the decision, the process of restoring elected local government institutions in KP has also been delayed.

Relevant federal and provincial authorities have been directed to await further instructions from the ECP in accordance with constitutional and judicial orders.