The decision, announced on Wednesday, follows a hearing where the electoral watchdog reserved its verdict on a provincial government request to defer the polls. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration had cited prevailing law and order issues, the imposition of a provincial emergency, and troop deployments under Article 245 as reasons for delay.
Under the new directive issued by an ECP bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the commission instructed its office to submit an election schedule for approval in districts with finalized constituencies. The order excludes 12 specific districts placed under an Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) framework following an Oct 11 federal government emergency decree, which noted security concerns in areas including Bannu, Mohmand, Orakzai, Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Lower South Waziristan, and Upper South Waziristan.
Additionally, the ECP ordered adjustments to seat counts and village and neighborhood councils based on current revenue limits for seven specific districts: Karak, Hangu, Swat, Bar Swat, Battagram, Paharpur, and Allai. Local government terms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa previously expired in phases in March and June 2026, leaving the polls pending amid prior debates over delimitation and legislative amendments.
