ISLAMABAD:The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered local government elections in the federal capital under the Islamabad Local Government Act, 2015, and directed that the election schedule be issued today.
A five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard a case regarding delays in holding local government elections in Islamabad. The interior secretary and other officials appeared before the commission.
During the hearing, ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Malik informed the commission that delimitation had been carried out six times in Islamabad, while the election schedule had been issued four times. The last election programme was issued on October 9, 2026, with polling scheduled for February 2026.
He said the federal government had introduced an ordinance relating to local government elections, but its validity expired on September 6. The final delimitations were published on October 14.
The special secretary further stated that the Interior Ministry had been informed about the expiry of the ordinance and two reminder letters had also been sent. However, the Islamabad local government rules had not yet been provided, while the Law Ministry had refused to approve the rules.
He said the federal government had not yet introduced a new local government law; therefore, elections should be held under the existing 2015 law.
The interior secretary told the commission that the facts presented were correct, but implementing the 2015 law would require the entire process to be repeated.
In response, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said holding elections under the 2015 law would not affect the delimitation process.
He added that assurances had been given by the committee comprising the interior minister, interior secretary, chief commissioner and other ministers, but it appeared that the government did not want to hold local government elections in Islamabad.
The chief election commissioner said the Constitution required local government elections to be held under the relevant law, adding that the ECP was now compelled to issue an order to ensure the elections took place.
Later, the chief election commissioner read out a short order directing that local government elections in Islamabad be held under the Islamabad Local Government Act, 2015, and that the election schedule be issued the same day.