- Aasiya Niaz
- Jan 09, 2026
Fresh amendments cast doubt over Islamabad LG polls
-
- Web Desk
- Jan 03, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Local government elections in the federal capital appear set for yet another delay, as the federal cabinet on Friday approved sweeping changes to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government Act, 2015, a move that has significantly complicated preparations for polls scheduled for February 15.
Although the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not formally deferred the elections, the newly approved amendments make it highly unlikely that the process can proceed as planned. If postponed, this would mark the fifth delay since the term of the previous local government expired nearly five years ago.
Cabinet approves restructuring of local bodies
The federal cabinet endorsed 14 amendments to the local government law, including a major structural overhaul of Islamabad’s municipal framework. One of the most significant changes involves abolishing the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and replacing it with a system of “town corporations”.
Under the revised framework, the capital will be divided into three town corporations, each broadly aligned with the territorial boundaries of a National Assembly constituency. Islamabad currently has three NA seats, and the proposed alignment is intended, according to the government, to improve administrative efficiency and service delivery.
An official statement issued after the cabinet meeting confirmed that the amendments were approved following recommendations made by the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases during its meeting on December 30, 2025. The statement also noted that actions taken under the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, had been formally ratified.
Political sparring over election delays
The announcement has reignited political tensions in the capital. When the ECP issued the latest election schedule last month, the Islamabad chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had predicted that the government would find a way to avoid holding the polls in February.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rejected those claims, arguing that legislative changes were necessary to ensure better governance at the grassroots level. PML-N leaders also maintained confidence in their electoral prospects, citing their victory in the last local government elections.
Five years without elected local representation
The absence of an elected local government has had tangible consequences for residents of the capital. Since the expiry of the previous council’s term in February 2021, Islamabad’s estimated 2.5 million residents have been without municipal representation, with complaints ranging from water shortages and sanitation issues to deteriorating roads and unplanned urban growth.
Over the years, the ECP has repeatedly undertaken constituency delimitations and announced election schedules, only for them to be withdrawn or suspended due to legal or administrative changes. On one occasion, polling was cancelled just a day before voting was due to take place.
Delays under successive governments
Responsibility for the prolonged delay spans multiple administrations. When the local government term ended in 2021, PTI was in power, and elections were constitutionally required to be held within 120 days. However, no meaningful progress was made during that period.
Following the change of government, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) administration also failed to conduct the polls. Initially, elections were planned for 50 union councils, but the government argued that the number should be increased to 101, triggering fresh delays. Later, the number of union councils was proposed to be raised again, first to 125, and then through an increase in general seats — further pushing back the timeline.
A decade since the last polls
Islamabad’s only local government elections were held in 2015–16, when PML-N emerged victorious and Sheikh Anser Aziz was elected mayor. At the time, the capital was divided into 50 union councils.
With the latest amendments now approved, uncertainty continues to surround the future of local governance in the capital, raising questions about when Islamabad’s residents will finally be able to elect their representatives once again.
You May Also Like
