The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday ordered local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts where delimitation has been completed, while excluding twelve districts placed under special administrative arrangements following the October 11 emergency proclamation.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the reserved verdict in the KP local government elections case, directing the commission's office to submit the election programme for approval, according to GEO TV. The ruling marks a firm step towards restoring representative governance at the grassroots level in a province that has borne the brunt of terrorism and instability for far too long.
Which districts will go to the polls?
The poll organising body ruled that elections would not be scheduled in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Mohmand, Orakzai and North Waziristan under the federal government's order dated October 11. The commission also directed its office to issue delimitation schedules for other districts where the process remains incomplete, excluding Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan.
ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal informed a five-member bench, headed by the chief election commissioner during Tuesday's hearing, that delimitation had been completed in 23 districts where elections could proceed through an official order.
The ECP further ordered the adjustment and determination of village and neighbourhood councils and category-wise reserved seats in the relevant tehsil councils, including those in Karak, Hangu, Swat, Bar Swat, Battagram, Paharpur and Allai, to facilitate timely elections and delimitation.
Why did the ECP act now?
The decision followed a hearing on Tuesday, when the bench considered the provincial government's request to defer polls, citing law and order concerns, emergency measures and the deployment of troops. The commission, however, held firm, as Dawn reported, that districts where delimitation had been finalised could not be kept waiting indefinitely.
The terms of local bodies elected in the first phase expired in March 2026, while those formed in the second phase completed their terms in June. The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have therefore been without their elected local representatives for months, a vacuum the ECP has now moved decisively to fill.
The commission also considered the provincial government's amendments to local government legislation, which affected the delimitation process.
The emergency and the new administrative structure
President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed emergency and governor's rule in KP on October 11, 2026, on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The federal government cited worsening security conditions and shortcomings in the provincial government's counterterrorism efforts.
Under the arrangement, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assumed responsibility for provincial affairs, assisted by an 11-member advisory council. Parliament endorsed the emergency measures during a joint sitting on October 15.
The federal government also established an Area Development Secretariat (ADS) to oversee administrative and development matters in 12 designated districts, with the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) providing a representative structure for the affected areas, Pakistan Times reported. The ADS is intended to support governance, development and security-related administration, while the ARDC provides a mechanism for local representation and oversight.
The 12 districts covered by the arrangement are Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan.
What happens next?
The election programme will now be submitted to the ECP for approval in the districts where delimitation is complete. For the remaining districts, delimitation schedules will be issued in due course, according to HUM News.
For the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who have endured the scourge of terrorism with remarkable fortitude, the restoration of local representation is more than an administrative formality. It is a reaffirmation that the writ of the state, and the voice of the citizen, shall prevail over the designs of those who seek to plunge the frontier into darkness.
FAQ
When did the ECP order local government elections in KP?
The ECP issued the order on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, following a hearing on Tuesday conducted by a five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
Which KP districts are excluded from the local body polls?
Twelve districts under the ARDC arrangement are excluded: Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan.
How many KP districts have completed delimitation?
ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal informed the bench that delimitation has been completed in 23 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where elections can proceed through an official order.
Why was emergency imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed emergency and governor's rule on October 11, 2026, on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, citing worsening security conditions and shortcomings in the provincial government's counterterrorism efforts.