The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered that local government elections in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) be held in line with the ICT LG Act, 2015. On Wednesday, the commission also directed its officials to issue the polls schedule the same day.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued the order while hearing a case about delays in holding local government polls in the federal capital. The proceedings followed a notice the commission had issued to the secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the chief commissioner of the ICT.
Commission’s feedback on Islamabad local government rules
The ECP said it had sent its feedback on the Islamabad Local Government Rules to the Ministry of Interior on July 20, 2026. The aim was to ensure the legislation and rules were framed and published in line with the commission’s recommendations.
Also read: ECP Announces Schedule for Islamabad Local Government Polls
The term of the last elected local government in the ICT expired in February 2021. Fresh elections have not been held since, owing to what the source describes as diverse legal and administrative reasons.
Statutory deadline under the Elections Act, 2017
Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017 requires the commission to hold new local government elections within 120 days of a term’s expiry. The commission’s order comes against that legal timeline.
