Islamabad, March 6, 2026: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday rejected a request by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to postpone the delimitation exercise in 24 districts ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
According to informed sources, the provincial government had sought a 180-day delay in the delimitation process. In a separate letter, the province’s chief secretary also requested the electoral watchdog to defer the local body polls, citing the government’s plan to amend the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013.
The chief secretary further stated that the ECP had initiated the delimitation process without consulting the provincial government and pointed to adverse weather conditions and law and order concerns in some districts as reasons for the delay.
However, sources said the electoral body deliberated on the request and emphasised that it was constitutionally bound to conduct delimitation and local government elections in accordance with existing laws. The ECP cited relevant constitutional and legal provisions, including Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, Article 222(6) of the Constitution of Pakistan, and Sections 17, 219 and 221 of the Elections Act 2017.
Rejecting the request, the commission noted that it had been urging the provincial government since 2024 to introduce any required amendments to local government laws in a timely manner.
Sources added that the ECP also clarified that consultation with the provincial government was not mandatory for the delimitation exercise under the Constitution and existing laws. While the provincial government has the authority to amend legislation, the commission maintained it could not halt the delimitation process merely on the basis of proposed amendments.
Officials said that as the Local Government Act 2013 and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Rules 2021 remain in force, the ECP had completed preliminary delimitation in 23 districts and published the lists on March 5, 2026.
Following the publication of the preliminary lists, the commission has also begun receiving objections and suggestions to ensure the timely completion of delimitation and the conduct of local government elections in the province.
The ECP further maintained that weather conditions, transportation challenges and law and order issues did not affect the delimitation exercise, as the process primarily relies on population data rather than electoral rolls.
According to sources, the provincial government has also been informed that delimitation has not yet been conducted in areas where new districts were created or revenue boundaries were altered.
In this regard, the ECP has asked the provincial authorities to provide details regarding the number of tehsil councils, village councils and neighbourhood councils, along with relevant maps and data, so that a schedule for delimitation in those districts can be issued.
