ISLAMABAD: The federal government has extended the suspension of Article 140-A of the Constitution to the whole of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to halt all preparations for local government elections in the province until further orders.
In a separate development, the ECP on Thursday decided to hold the first phase of local government elections in Punjab on Feb 7, 2027, accepting the provincial government’s request to schedule polling after Jan 20 because of weather conditions.
The KP decision was notified through Federal Government Order No. 3/2026, issued by the Cabinet Division and published in the Gazette of Pakistan on Nov 4.
The order, seen by Dawn, refers to the proclamation of Oct 11, 2026, issued under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, through which an emergency was declared in the province on the grounds that its government could not be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
It also notes that the governor had already been directed to assume control of the provincial government.
Under the new order, Article 140-A will no longer apply to the remaining districts of the province, in addition to the designated districts where it had already been suspended under Federal Government Order No. 2/2026.
The governor will also exercise the powers of the KP chief minis-ter under the Constitution, provincial laws and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Rules of Business, 1985.
He will be required to keep the federal government informed of all executive actions taken under the proclamation through monthly reports. The order came into force immediately.The ECP took up the order at a meeting on Thursday, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The commission had earlier decided to hold local government elections in KP, except in districts where governor’s rule and emergency had been imposed and Article 140-A suspended. Preparations for the polls were already under way.
During the meeting, the ECP examined Clause 2 of the new order, which extended the suspension of Article 140-A to the remaining districts.
The commission was informed that Article 140-A provides for the establishment of local governments in the provinces, while its second clause makes holding local government elections the constitutional responsibility of the ECP.
After reviewing the implications of the suspension for the electoral process, the commission concluded that holding local government elections in the remaining districts was no longer possible.
Therefore, it decided to suspend all preparations for the polls until further orders.
Explaining the decision, a senior ECP official said Article 140-A made elected local governments a constitutional requirement.
He said its first clause required provinces to establish local government systems through legislation and devolve political, administrative and financial authority to elected representatives, while the second clause entrusted the ECP with conducting local government elections.
The provision was inserted through the 18th Amendment in 2010 to ensure that local governments were a constitutional obligation rather than a matter of provincial executive discretion, heexplained.
The official said that once Article 140-A was made inapplicable, the constitutional basis for holding local government elections and maintaining elected local government systems would cease to operate for the duration of the suspension.
He added that executive authority would consequently remain concentratedin the governor.
According to the official, the suspension was linked to the emergency proclamation and would remain effective until withdrawn or the emergency ended, unless struck down by a court.
Punjab polls on Feb 7 Meanwhile, the ECP decided to hold the first phase of local government elections in Punjab on Feb 7, 2027, following a hearing conducted by a four-member bench headed by CEC Raja.
The bench also comprised ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi and Babar Hassan Bharwana.
The Punjab Chief Secretary, the secretary of the Local Government and Community Development Departmentand Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique appeared before the commission.
The chief secretary informed the ECP that the provincial government was fully prepared to conduct the elections and had completed the necessary arrangements.
He said the required information concerning the appointment of returning officers and district returning officers had been provided, and there was no administrative impediment to announcing the election schedule.
However, he requested that polling be scheduled after Jan 20 in phases, keeping in view dense winter fog, transportation difficulties and shorter daylight hours.
He said the administration also needed time to arrange transport and ensure the availability of school buildings as polling stations.
An ECP member pointed out that the provincial government had previously proposed holding elections in April.The chief secretary responded that the government had reconsidered its position and had no objection to elections in January or February, although April would be more suitable because of longer daylight hours and school holidays.
The commission observed that under Articles 140-A and 219(d) of the Constitution, read with Section 219 of the Elections Act, 2017, it was responsible for conducting local government elections.
It also referred to its constitutional duty under Article 218(3) to ensure that elections were conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with the law.
Accepting the provincial government’s request in the interest of providing a level playing field to candidates and voters, the ECP fixed Feb 7, 2027, as the polling date for the first phase of Punjab’s local government elections.
The commission directed its office to take the follow-up action accordingly.