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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday decided to hold the first phase of long-delayed local government (LG) elections in Punjab on February 7, 2027 but the polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were postponed until further orders.
A four-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, here held a hearing on the conduct of LG polls in Punjab.
According to a statement issued by the ECP, Punjab chief secretary, Minister for Local Government and Community Development Zeeshan Rafique and the department’s secretary appeared before the commission bench. The commission observed keeping in view the constitutional provisions and to provide a level playing field to the contesting candidates and voters of the constituencies, the request made by the chief secretary was accepted in the interest of justice. It was also decided that the first phase of local government elections in Punjab will be held with the polling date set as February 7, 2027. With this, the office was directed to take follow-up action accordingly.
Meanwhile, the ECP has halted all preparations for local government elections until further orders after the federal government extended the suspension of Article 140-A of the Constitution to the entire province a day earlier, a separate statement issued by the commission says.
