Election Commission Releases Delimitation Timeline for Islamabad’s Upcoming Local Government Elections

ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced a timetable for the delimitation of electoral constituencies for the forthcoming local government elections in Islamabad.

According to the timetable, administrative preparations — including the acquisition of maps and associated data — will occur between July 22 and July 31. The delimitation process will conclude when the final constituency and union council lists are officially released on October 13, after which the election schedule will be published.

The previous local government in Islamabad concluded its term in February 2021, and elections have remained postponed due to assorted justifications.

Consequently, roughly 2.5 million residents of Islamabad continue to confront challenges such as water shortages and unpaved streets. At various junctures, the federal government has contemplated holding elections only to suspend them later, citing the need to “further strengthen” the Local Government Act for “enhanced performance.”

Says arrangements such as procurement of maps, relevant data will be made from July 22 to 31

Earlier this January, President Asif Ali Zardari enacted an ordinance that introduced multiple amendments to the Local Government Act of 2015.

The ordinance replaces the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) with three town corporations and grants the government‑appointed administrator expanded authority along with an indefinite term.

The ordinance was promulgated ahead of the originally scheduled local government elections on February 15, and thousands of candidates from all 125 Union Councils had already filed nomination papers.

The ordinance further provides that, in the absence of an elected local government, the administrator may remain in office until a new council is elected, removing the previous ceiling of a six‑month tenure, and authorizes the administrator to levy taxes, fees, rates, rents, tolls, and surcharges.

The ordinance stipulates the establishment of three town corporations in Islamabad, each encompassing, as far as practicable, the territorial boundaries of a National Assembly constituency; the capital presently comprises three NA seats.

Notably, when the ECP announced an election schedule in February 2026, the local PTI faction alleged that the government intended to evade a defeat by postponing the polls.

Nonetheless, former deputy mayor of PML‑N, Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, dismissed the PTI’s assertion, asserting that the ordinance aims to improve the local government system and expressing confidence that PML‑N will win the elections.

When the previous local government’s term concluded in 2021, the PTI administration was in power and elections were scheduled to occur within 120 days.

However, the PTI government failed to take decisive steps toward holding the elections. Upon assuming power, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) likewise postponed them.

During the PDM’s tenure, elections were initially planned for 50 Union Councils; the government later argued that the number should be expanded to 101, causing additional delays.

After arrangements were finalized for 101 Union Councils, the PDM government proposed raising the count to 125; elections were slated for those constituencies, but in September of the previous year the administration opted to increase the number of general seats within the UCs.

In February of this year, the ECP resolved to conduct elections for 125 Union Councils; however, the polls were postponed following fresh legislation that proposes to partition Islamabad into three town corporations. A delimitation schedule has now been released, and the extent to which elections will proceed on the basis of these boundaries remains to be seen.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026

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