{
  "id": 16900449,
  "title": "ECP orders immediate local body polls in KP districts demarcated, sans those under ARDC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/ecp-orders-immediate-local-body-polls-in-kp-districts-demarcated-sans",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T12:49:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2040445/ecp-orders-immediate-local-body-polls-in-kp-districts-demarcated-sans-those-under-ardc"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Wednesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued an order to hold immediate local government (LG) elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) districts where delimitation was finished, except for the 12 districts under special emergency measures. This decision came a day after the ECP initially postponed the LG polls after the provincial government requested a delay, citing concerns over law and order, imposition of emergency, and troop deployment under Article 245.\n\nThe ECP's directive, revealed by Dawn, mandated its office to submit the election program for approval in districts where delimitation was completed. The decision excluded Bannu, Mohmand, Orakzai, Lakki Marwat, and North Waziristan, which were specified in the federal government's October 11 emergency order. The ECP also called for the issuance of delimitation schedules for the remaining districts, except Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Lower South Waziristan, and Upper South Waziristan.\n\nThe order cited constitutional provisions including Articles 218(3) (Election Commission), 140A(2) (local government), 219(d) (ECP duties), 220 (executive assistance), and 222 (electoral laws), along with Sections 219 and 221 of the Elections Act 2017. The ECP also directed adjustments to the number of village councils/neighbourhood councils and category-wise reserved seats in seven districts (Karak, Hangu, Swat, Bar Swat, Battagram, Paharpur, and Allai) to ensure timely LG elections and delimitation in non-designated districts.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday ordered local government (LG) elections to be held immediately in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts where delimitation had been completed, excluding those included in the 12 districts with special emergency measures. A day earlier, the ECP had reserved the verdict after hearing the provincial government’s request to defer local…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}