ECP suspends all steps for KP local government elections

ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday suspended all steps taken so far for holding local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until further orders, following a federal government order issued on November 4, 2026, suspending Article 140-A of the Constitution across the province. The commission reviewed the federal government's Order No. 3, dated November 4, particularly its Clause 2, which extended the suspension of Article 140-A to all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, beyond those already covered under an earlier order. The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, examined the constitutional and legal implications of the latest order for the ongoing local government election process in the province. The commission was briefed that Article 140-A provides for the establishment of local governments in the provinces, while its sub-article (2) assigns the responsibility of conducting local government elections to the ECP. The ECP had earlier decided to hold local government elections in KP, except in districts where Article 140-A had been suspended following the imposition of Governor's Rule and Emergency, and had initiated several steps towards the electoral exercise. However, after a detailed review, the commission concluded that the latest federal government order had made it impossible to proceed with local government elections in the remaining districts as well. Consequently, it decided to suspend all measures taken so far for holding local government elections in the province until further orders.