Islamabad: The Election Commission has ordered to hold local body elections in Islamabad under the Local Body Act 2015, and the election schedule was also issued after the commission’s order.
A five-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja held a hearing. The Interior Secretary and Election Commission officials appeared.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja also read out a short order of the commission, in which it was ordered to hold elections in Islamabad as per the 2015 law.
Special Secretary Election Commission Zafar Iqbal Malik gave a briefing that delimitation of constituencies has been done six times in Islamabad, election schedule was also issued four times, the last election program was issued on October 9, 2026, under which polling was to be held in February 2026.
The briefing further informed that the presidential order issued by the government expired on September 6, the final delimitation was published on October 14, and reminder letters were sent to the Ministry of Interior twice regarding the expiration of the presidential order. Choose a gift
The Special Secretary Election Commission said that the rules of the Islamabad Local Government have not been provided yet, the Ministry of Law has also refused to approve the rules, the federal government has not yet made a new Local Government Law, so the 2015 Local Government Law exists and elections should be allowed under it.
The Secretary Interior admitted to the Election Commission that the facts presented are correct, in the event of elections under the 2015 law, the proceedings so far will have to be terminated.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said that if elections are held under the 2015 law, there will be no impact on the delimitation. The Interior Minister, Interior Secretary, Chief Commissioner and a committee of ministers had given assurances, it seems that the government does not want to hold local body elections in Islamabad.
The Chief Election Commissioner clarified that according to the constitution, local body elections must be held under the law, the Election Commission is forced to order the holding of local body elections in Islamabad.
Election schedule released
After the order to hold local body elections, the Election Commission also released the election schedule, according to which polling for the local body elections in Islamabad will be held on December 20.
According to the schedule, nomination papers will be issued from October 30, nomination papers will be submitted from November 2 to 6, and the list of nominated candidates will be displayed on November 7.
According to the Election Commission schedule, the nomination papers of the candidates will be scrutinized from November 9 to 13, appeals against the decisions can be filed from November 14 to 18, and decisions on the appeals will be made from November 19 to 23.
The final list of candidates will be displayed on November 25, and the allotment of election symbols to the candidates will be on November 26.
Polling for the local body elections in Islamabad will be held on December 20 and the election results will be released from December 21 to 24.
The Election Commission has scheduled the cases of local government elections for hearing in the Election Commission on October 28 to ensure the holding of elections to Punjab and Cantonment Boards.
Notices have been issued to the Chief Secretary and Secretary Local Government in the case regarding Punjab, while notices have also been issued to the Secretary Ministry of Defense and Director General Military Land and Cantonments in the case of Cantonments.