ECP orders fresh schedule for Islamabad local government polls

AI Summary

Pakistan’s Election Commission ordered its office to prepare a fresh schedule for local government elections in Islamabad Capital Territory. The polls have been delayed for years despite legal requirements, with repeated changes to constituency numbers and election rules disrupting prior schedules.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday directed its office to prepare and issue the election programme for local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). A five-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, issued the order while hearing a case concerning delays in holding local government elections in ICT. Members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan were also part of the bench. The proceedings were initiated following a notice issued by the commission to the secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the chief commissioner of ICT. Secretary Interior Ahmed Raza Sarwar and Additional Deputy Commissioner Uzair Ali Khan, representing the chief commissioner of ICT, appeared before the commission, while the ECP was represented by its secretary, special secretary (policy), special secretary (law), ADG (LGE), ADG (law) and director (law). In its short order the Commission observed: “Accordingly, in exercise of its constitutional powers and functions under Articles 140A, 218(3), 219 and 220 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, read with Section 219 of the Elections Act, 2017, and under Sections 17 and 24 of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015, the Commission hereby directs the office to forthwith prepare and issue the Election Programme for the conduct of local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory, in accordance with the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015, as legally in force, the Elections Act, 2017, and the rules made thereunder.” The ECP further directed the concerned office to ensure that all consequential steps were taken expeditiously and strictly in accordance with the law to facilitate the timely completion of the electoral process. Islamabad has been without an elected local government for more than five years. The only local government elections in the capital were held in 2015, with polls conducted for 50 union councils. The PML-N won the elections, and Sheikh Anser Aziz was elected the first mayor. The local government’s term expired in February 2021. Under Article 140-A of the Constitution and Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP is required to hold elections within 120 days of the expiry of a local government’s term. However, fresh polls have been delayed amid repeated changes to the legal framework. The ECP conducted delimitations multiple times and issued election schedules on several occasions, only for them to be cancelled later — in one instance, a day before polling. Initially planned for 50 union councils (UCs), the number was increased to 101 and then to 125. In December 2022, elections were scheduled for Dec 31 that year on the basis of 101 UCs. However, just days before polling, the government amended the law to increase the number of UCs to 125, forcing the ECP to postpone the polls, citing logistical difficulties, despite an Islamabad High Court order to proceed. After a prolonged delay, the ECP announced a schedule for elections on Feb 15, 2026, for 125 UCs. However, in January 2026, President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which replaced the Metropolitan Corporation structure with three town corporations aligned with National Assembly constituencies, necessitating fresh delimitations. The ECP subsequently withdrew the schedule. The federal government pursued replacement legislation, with a parliamentary committee approving a bill in September. However, the legislation was not enacted before the ordinance lapsed. The ECP had earlier sent its feedback on the ICT Local Government Rules to the Interior Ministry on July 20, but the Law Ministry returned the draft, citing the expiry of the ordinance and the lack of authority to frame rules. The commission had sought the assistance of the interior secretary and the chief commissioner to determine how elections could proceed following the ordinance’s expiry. It has now decided to proceed under the 2015 Act, which remains in force. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday ruled that Islamabad local government (LG) elections would be conducted under the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, adding that it would issue a schedule for the polls later in the day. A five-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, conducted a hearing over multiple delays in the polls fixture for the past five years. Interior secretary and ECP officials appeared in the hearing as well. ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Malik said that delimitation of constituencies had been carried out six times and election schedules had been issued four times. The latest schedule, he added, was set for Oct 9, while the polling was originally planned for February this year. The Islamabad Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance,