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ECP Withdraws Islamabad Local Government Election Schedule After Ordinance Changes
Election Commission withdraws Islamabad local government polls schedule following promulgation of ordinance changing LG structure and election mode in the federal capital.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-16
ECP Withdraws Islamabad Local Government Election Schedule After Ordinance Changes

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday withdrew the previously announced schedule for local government elections in Islamabad following the promulgation of an ordinance that significantly altered the structure of the local government system and the mode of elections in the federal capital.

According to an official statement issued by the ECP, the decision was taken because “the structure of Local Governments and mode of Local Government Elections in Islamabad Capital Territory have been changed” after the promulgation of amendments to the Local Government Act 2015.

Earlier this week, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the ordinance, introducing sweeping changes to the Islamabad local government framework. The amendments replace the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) with three town corporations, while granting enhanced powers to a government-appointed administrator.

Under the new ordinance, the administrator’s tenure has been made indefinite, removing the earlier provision that limited the term to six months in the absence of an elected local government. The administrator has also been empowered to impose taxes, fees, rates, rents, tolls, and surcharges.

The federal cabinet approved 14 amendments to the Local Government Act, including changes to the administrative structure and governance mechanisms in the capital.

The withdrawal of the election schedule comes despite the fact that thousands of candidates from all 125 union councils in Islamabad had already submitted nomination papers for the local government polls.

The ordinance has sparked widespread criticism from political parties and civil society. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), human rights activists, civil society organisations and residents of Islamabad have rejected the amendments, calling them undemocratic and an attempt to delay grassroots democracy in the capital.

On Wednesday, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman demanded that local body elections be conducted according to the original schedule.

“The elections should be held on time and on the basis of nominations that have already been filed. The ordinance should be abolished and undemocratic practices must end,” he said.

The future timeline for Islamabad’s local government elections remains uncertain following the ECP’s decision.
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