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ECP sets February 7 for Punjab local govt elections, suspends KP polls

The first phase of Punjab local government elections will be held Feb. 7, 2027, as the ECP suspends polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over Article 140-A.

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Kamran Ali

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Kamran Ali, a seasoned journalist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has a decade of experience covering terrorism, human rights, politics, economy, climate change, culture, and sports. With an MS in Media Studies, he has worked across print, radio, TV, and digital media, producing investigative reports and co-hosting shows that highlight critical issues.

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Aamir Abbasi

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Aamir; a journalist with 15 years of experience, working in Newspaper, TV and Digital Media. Worked in Field, covered Big Legal Constitutional and Political Events in Pakistan since 2009 with Pakistan’s Top Media Organizations. Graduate of Quaid I Azam University Islamabad.

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ECP sets February 7 for Punjab local govt elections, suspends KP polls
Polling staff empty a ballot box after polls closed at a polling station during the general election, in Lahore, Pakistan, February 8, 2024.
Reuters/File

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday set Feb. 7, 2027, for the first phase of Punjab local government elections. It also suspended preparations for polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after the federal government extended the suspension of Article 140-A of the Constitution across the province.

When will Punjab local government elections be held?

The ECP has fixed Feb. 7, 2027, for the first phase of local government polls in Punjab. In a brief order, it accepted the chief secretary's request to hold the elections after Jan. 20, 2027, in multiple phases, citing administrative convenience and weather conditions.

The chief secretary told the commission that consultations between a provincial government committee and the ECP had earlier produced an understanding to hold the elections between December and January. He then asked for polling to take place preferably after Jan. 20, 2027, and proposed holding it in several phases.

Why did the ECP suspend local government elections in KP?

In a separate order, the ECP suspended all preparations for local government elections in KP until further notice. It cited a federal government directive extending the suspension of Article 140-A across the province.

The commission said it had previously decided to hold local government elections in KP, except in districts covered by an earlier order issued after the imposition of governor's rule and a state of emergency. It reviewed the federal government order of Nov. 4 at a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

The meeting examined Clause 2 of that order, which extends the suspension of Article 140-A to all remaining districts of the province beyond those covered by the earlier order. After examining the implications, the commission concluded that holding local government elections in the remaining districts was also no longer possible under the prevailing circumstances.

What does Article 140-A say about local government elections?

The commission noted that Article 140-A provides for the establishment of local governments in the provinces. Its Sub-clause (2) assigns the ECP the constitutional responsibility for conducting local government elections.

The ECP reiterated that it was responsible for ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with the law. It also said it must provide a level playing field to all contestants.

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