Islamabad, 5 November, 2026 (Nosheen): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that the first phase of local government elections in Punjab will be held on February 7, 2027, while suspending the ongoing election process in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until further orders. The decision was taken during a meeting of a four-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, which reviewed the arrangements and requests concerning local government elections in both provinces. According to the commission, Punjab’s request for rescheduling the elections was accepted after the provincial government cited unfavourable weather conditions, including smog and dense fog, the holy month of Ramadan and the unavailability of schoolteachers. The Punjab chief secretary informed the commission that the provincial government had initially agreed to conduct elections between December 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027, but later sought a revised schedule. Following consultations, the provincial government requested that the polls be held in January or February 2027, maintaining that weather conditions generally improve in February. After considering the request, the ECP decided to hold the first phase of Punjab’s local government elections on February 7, 2027, stating that the move was intended to provide equal opportunities to all candidates and voters. The commission also reiterated its constitutional responsibility to organise local government elections across the provinces, cantonment areas and Islamabad. Separately, the ECP decided to suspend preparations for local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after examining a federal government order issued on November 4. The commission reviewed Clause 2 of the order, which suspends Article 140A of the Constitution, and noted that its scope had been extended to districts beyond those covered by previous orders. The ECP also considered the constitutional provision under Article 140A(2), which assigns responsibility for conducting local government elections to the Election Commission. It observed that the federal government’s latest order had affected the ongoing electoral process in the remaining districts of KP, making it impossible to proceed with the polls. Consequently, the commission directed that all measures taken for holding local government elections in the affected districts be suspended until further instructions. Earlier, the ECP had directed its relevant offices to prepare election schedules for KP districts where constituency delimitation had been completed, while excluding certain districts under special administrative arrangements and federal government directives.