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ECP Rejects KP Request to Delay Delimitation for Local Government Elections
The Election Commission of Pakistan has rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s request to delay delimitation in 24 districts, stating the process must continue under existing laws ahead of local government elections.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-06
ECP Rejects KP Request to Delay Delimitation for Local Government Elections

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday rejected a request by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to postpone the delimitation exercise in 24 districts ahead of upcoming local government elections.

According to informed sources, the provincial government had sought a delay of 180 days in carrying out the delimitation process, citing administrative reasons and plans to amend the existing local government legislation.

The province’s chief secretary had written to the electoral watchdog requesting a delay in the local government polls due to the government’s intention to introduce amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013. In the letter, the chief secretary also claimed that the ECP had initiated the delimitation exercise without consulting the provincial government.

The letter further cited adverse weather conditions, transportation challenges and law and order concerns in certain districts as reasons for postponing the process.

However, sources said the electoral body reviewed the request and concluded that it was constitutionally obligated to proceed with delimitation and local government elections under the existing legal framework.

The commission emphasised that its actions were guided by Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan and Article 222(6) of the Constitution of Pakistan, as well as Sections 17, 219 and 221 of the Elections Act 2017, which mandate the ECP to organise and conduct elections in accordance with the law.

Rejecting the provincial government’s request, the commission stated that it had been urging the KP government since 2024 to introduce any required amendments to the local government laws in a timely manner.

Officials maintained that while the provincial government had the authority to legislate and amend laws, the ECP could not halt the delimitation process under the existing legal framework merely on the basis of a proposed legislative change.

Sources also clarified that consultation with the provincial government was not legally required for the delimitation exercise under the Constitution and election laws.

According to the ECP, preliminary delimitation for 23 districts has already been completed and was officially published on March 5, 2026. Following the publication, the commission initiated the process of receiving objections and suggestions from stakeholders to ensure transparency and timely completion of the exercise.

The ECP further explained that weather conditions, transportation issues and law and order challenges do not significantly affect the delimitation process because it primarily relies on population data rather than electoral rolls.

Sources added that the electoral body has not carried out delimitation in areas where new districts have recently been created or where revenue boundaries have changed.

In this regard, the provincial government has been formally requested to provide the number of tehsil councils, village councils and neighbourhood councils in those districts along with relevant data and maps. Once this information is received, the ECP will issue a schedule for delimitation in those areas.

The development marks an important step in preparations for the local government elections in the province, as the commission continues to carry out its constitutional responsibilities.
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ECP

KhyberPakhtunkhwa

Delimitation

LocalGovernmentElections
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