The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad authorities to submit pending local government election data by July 1. The commission issued the deadline after reviewing delays during a key meeting on Tuesday.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired the meeting at the ECP Secretariat. Senior commission members, the ECP secretary, and other officials also attended. They reviewed preparations for local government elections in Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
ECP Questions Delays in KP and Islamabad
The ECP expressed concern over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s failure to provide required maps and election data. Officials said 15 districts still have pending documents despite repeated requests.
Therefore, the commission invoked Article 220 of the Constitution. It directed the KP chief secretary and local government secretary to submit all required records before July 1. Both officials must also appear personally before the commission to explain the delay.
Meanwhile, the tenure of local governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended on March 15. Under the provincial law, elected local representatives serve four-year terms.
Islamabad Case Also Fixed for Hearing
The ECP also reviewed Islamabad’s delayed local government election preparations. Officials informed the commission that delimitation proposals remain pending before the federal cabinet.
However, authorities have not yet submitted the required notifications or maps. Consequently, the commission fixed Islamabad’s case for hearing on July 1. It also summoned the Islamabad chief commissioner and deputy commissioner.
The previous local government term in Islamabad ended in February 2021. Since then, elections have faced repeated delays, affecting millions of residents.
Meanwhile, the ECP instructed its Punjab office to complete all preparations after delimitation. The commission said it would announce the election schedule immediately afterward.
