slug: “kp-ardc-48-member-council-notified-12-districts”
category: “National News”
wp_category: “National News”
headline: “Federal Government Notifies 48-Member KP Council for 12 Districts”
focus_keyphrase: “48-member KP council”
seo_title: “48-Member KP Council Notified for 12 Districts”
meta_description: “The federal government has notified a 48-member KP council for 12 districts under governor’s rule, naming Shaukatullah Khan chairman.”
tags: “K-P council, ARDC, governor’s rule, Faisal Karim Kundi, Shaukatullah Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tribal districts, jirga”
original_element: “Explainer context — how the ARDC/ADS machinery works under governor’s rule and why the council is the first formal local-representation channel since the provincial administration was suspended; own data point — the Oct 11 emergency imposition and Oct 15 parliamentary ratification from Feature Pakistan’s prior coverage, internally linked.”
source: “https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635386/govt-notifies-48-member-area-representative-and-development-council-for-12-k-p-districts”
image_file: “hourly-2232-kp-ardc-council-kundi.webp”
image_title: “K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi”
image_alt: “48-member KP council — K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who forwarded the council nominations to the federal government for approval”
image_caption: “K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. The federal government has notified a 48-member Area Representative and Development Council for 12 districts of the province. Image: ARY News”
image_credit: “ARY News”
original_date: “2026-10-17”
word_count: “~660”
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Federal Government Notifies 48-Member KP Council for 12 Districts
The federal government on Saturday formally notified a 48-member KP council — the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) — for 12 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as the governor’s administration put a local governance structure in place under governor’s rule.
The notification named Shaukatullah Khan of the Tarkani tribe from Bajaur district as chairman and Malik Khan Marjan of the Wazir tribe from North Waziristan as vice chairman, the Tribune reported. The Cabinet Division issued the notification after the list of nominees travelled through the provincial hierarchy to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and on to the federal government for approval.
How the 48-member KP council was chosen
The Area Development Secretariat said the entire nomination process was completed through extensive consultations with local jirgas, the assemblies of tribal elders, held with the full cooperation of the district administrations.
Deputy commissioners across all 12 districts facilitated the jirgas, during which communities identified what officials described as “preferred and influential tribal elders” through consensus. The names emerging from the jirgas then underwent scrutiny by the additional chief secretary and administrator of the secretariat.
The refined list went to the K-P chief secretary, who examined it and forwarded the names to Governor Kundi. The governor subsequently sent the final list to the federal government for formal approval, completing a chain that ran from village-level consultations to Islamabad.
Who sits on the new council
The notified members represent a broad cross-section of the region’s major tribes. The district-wise breakdown is as follows:
| District | Members |
|---|---|
| Bajaur | 4 |
| Mohmand | 3 |
| Khyber | 5 |
| Kurram | 5 |
| Orakzai | 3 |
| North Waziristan | 5 |
| Upper South Waziristan | 4 |
| Lower South Waziristan | 4 |
| Bannu | 4 |
| Dera Ismail Khan | 4 |
| Tank | 3 |
| Lakki Marwat | 4 |
Bajaur’s four seats went to the Tarkani tribe, including chairman Shaukatullah Khan. Khyber’s five members are all Afridi elders. Kurram’s representation spans the Bangash, Ali Sherzai and Turi tribes, while North Waziristan’s five include vice chairman Malik Khan Marjan alongside Wazir and Dawar elders.
What the council will do
The ARDC will elect its working procedures, meet every 15 days, and convene whenever required. Its members will also serve on district coordination committees to strengthen cooperation between local representatives and administrative institutions.
The council will identify development projects based on local needs, public demands and ground realities, and submit its recommendations to the federal government. It will also review law and order, recommend measures to counter terrorism and illegal activities, and propose improvements in governance, public safety and basic services.
Why this matters under governor’s rule
The notification lands a week after the federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in K-P on October 11 under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The move suspended the PTI-led provincial administration and transferred executive authority to Governor Kundi, and a joint session of parliament ratified the proclamations on October 15 amid opposition protest.
Since then, the governor’s administration has been assembling a parallel governance structure. An 11-member advisory council now oversees administrative affairs, and the Area Development Secretariat operates across the 12 designated districts in coordination with federal and provincial authorities, security forces and law enforcement agencies.
For residents of the merged tribal districts, the ARDC is the first formal channel of local representation since the provincial set-up was suspended. Its development recommendations will travel directly to the federal government, giving the jirga-nominated elders a direct line to Islamabad on projects, security and services. The arrangement has also drawn political scrutiny, with JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman saying his criticism of the emergency targeted policies rather than institutions.
What happens next
The council is expected to hold its first meeting in the coming days, where it will settle its working procedures and begin collecting development priorities from the 12 districts. The district coordination committees will then take shape, linking the tribal representatives with deputy commissioners and local institutions.
What is the ARDC?
The Area Representative and Development Council is a 48-member body of tribal elders and community representatives notified for 12 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It advises on development projects, law and order, and governance under the governor’s administration.
Who heads the 48-member council?
Shaukatullah Khan of the Tarkani tribe from Bajaur district is chairman, and Malik Khan Marjan of the Wazir tribe from North Waziristan is vice chairman.
Which districts does the council cover?
Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat.
How were the members selected?
Through consultations in local jirgas facilitated by deputy commissioners, followed by vetting at the secretariat and provincial levels before federal approval.
