Local body by-elections in KP see worrying lack of participation

PESHAWAR: The upcoming by-elections for local bodies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have drawn alarmingly low interest from the public and potential candidates, with official documents revealing a severe shortage of nominations across multiple categories.

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Despite 916 vacant seats awaiting contest in various local government tiers, only 155 candidates have submitted their nomination papers in Peshawar, according to documents obtained from the Election Commission.

The data highlights a particularly stark lack of participation in reserved categories. Out of 423 vacant seats reserved for women, only 7 candidates have filed nominations. On an additional 416 women’s seats, no candidate has come forward at all. Similarly, not a single nomination has been submitted for 264 seats reserved for minorities.

General seats have seen relatively better, though still insufficient, interest, with 93 candidates vying for 114 seats. Meanwhile, 13 candidates are contesting 33 seats reserved for farmers, and 41 candidates are in the running for 82 youth seats.

The by-elections are scheduled for October 19, but the lack of candidates across the majority of categories could pose a serious challenge to the electoral process and democratic representation in the province.

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Observers and political analysts have pointed to voter apathy, political disillusionment, security concerns, and lack of awareness as potential reasons behind the low turnout of candidates. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) may need to revisit its outreach and engagement strategies to ensure more inclusive and effective local governance in the future.