Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that for the first in Pakistan's history, the country has an 'empowered Local Government system'.

He said this in the face of his ruling party's defeat in the first phase of Khyber-Pakhtunkwa's LG elections, according to the provisional results.

In a tweet, the PM claimed that the elections were a 'start of modern and devolved LG system'.

"Amidst the noise over KP LG elec, no one realises these elections are start of modern, devolved LG system as exists in successful democracies. Directly elected Tehsil nazims will improve governance & create future ldrs. Ist time in our 74-yr history we have an empowered LG system," it read.

The Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl has managed to bag the maximum number of seats in the first phase of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Local Government polls, as per the provisional results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday.

The provisional results of 43 of the 64 tehsils showed that the Fazlur Rehman-led faction won 15 seats of mayor/chairman and gave a tough time to the ruling party PTI.

In Peshawar, the JUI-F also stunned its opponent PTI with a definitive lead in the contest for the mayor of the city. JUI-F candidate Haji Zubair Ali has secured 62,388 votes against 50,659 votes secured by PTI’s Rizwan Bangash. However, the ECP has stopped the results on account of the postponement of polling on six polling stations because of the law and order situation there.

It added that the JUI-F bagged 15 seats, PTI 12, ANP 6, PML-N 3, Independent candidates 5, and one each by PPP and JI.

The prime minister on Tuesday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lost the first phase of LG elections in K-P as they had not selected the right candidates for elections. He had also said he would personally be looking into PTI’s local election strategy for phase two of local elections in not only K-P but also local elections across the country. He vowed that PTI would come out stronger.

The LG poll, which was marred by reports of violence and indiscipline at many polling stations, was historic as it was held for the first time since the merger of tribal districts to K-P. In the first phase, the LG polls were held in 17 districts – including Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Mohmand, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan, Haripur, Buner, and Bajaur.