The Election Commission ordered the issuance of a fresh election program for local governments in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), while declaring key provisions of the August 2024 amendments to the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act (ICTLGA) 2015 inconsistent with the Constitution and the Elections Act, 2017.
The directions were issued in an order of the Commission made after the hearing of ICT LG case on Thursday, November 13, 2025, and uploaded on the ECP website last evening.
When will the LG elections be held?
The order directs ECP officials to “put up election program” for local governments in Islamabad. The exact timeline for various stages of the elections, including the polling day, will depend on the program the ECP is set to issue.
Although the order does not specify a deadline, the program may be issued within a few days. This will be the fourth election program issued for ICT local government elections since the term of the last local government expired on February 14, 2021. All previous programs were withdrawn or rendered ineffective due to legislative changes, administrative delays, or court interventions.
Read FAFEN story on the timeline of key developments regarding pending LG elections in Islamabad.
What did the 2024 amendment change?
In August 2024, Parliament amended the ICTLGA, through a government-sponsored bill, introducing the following changes:
a) General seats in each union council were increased from six to nine;
b) Women’s seats in each union council were reduced from two to one;
c) A new category of reserved seat was introduced for businesspersons;
d) Elections to the reserved seats and the panel of Chairman and Vice Chairman were made indirect;
e) Eligibility to contest for the Mayor of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) was restricted to only a general seat member; and
f) Responsibility for convening meetings of the Union Council for election to the reserved seats and the Chairman and Vice Chairman was given to the Union Council Secretaries.
ECP has raised objections, particularly on the last amendment, and asked the government to rectify it through another amendment. The federal government introduced a new amendment bill in the National Assembly in May 2025 to address the ECP’s objections. The bill remains pending with the Standing Committee on Interior, which has not yet finalized its report.
Read FAFEN story on the evolution of the LG system in Islamabad
What does the ECP order say about the amendments?
The current ECP order follows a hearing held on November 13, 2025, where the Commission heard ECP officers along with the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the Chief Commissioner, Islamabad. The Commission declared that the amendments introduced through the ICT Local Government (Amendment) Act 2024, particularly the changes to Section 15 that empower Union Council Secretaries to conduct elections on reserved seats and for Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons, are contrary to Articles 140 A (2), 219 (d) and 222 of the Constitution.
The Commission further held that Union Council Secretaries do not fall within the categories of officials permitted to conduct elections under Sections 50 and 221 of the Elections Act.
The order also refers to Supreme Court judgments that emphasize the ECP’s authority and responsibility to conduct local government elections and to issue directions necessary to fulfil its constitutional mandate. Citing Articles 140 A (2), 218 (3) and 219, the ECP stated that elections cannot be delayed due to incomplete or defective legislation. Where legislation is absent or insufficient, the Commission is empowered to make the arrangements required to ensure timely local government elections.
What did ECP officials tell the Commission?
The Secretary, Special Secretary and Director Law of the ECP briefed the Commission during the hearing. They informed the Commission that despite years of correspondence, reminders and meetings, the federal government is not taking the matter seriously, and that the incomplete legislative process remains the primary cause of delay.
They stated that all election arrangements, including the appointment and training of returning officers, procurement of election materials and acceptance of nomination papers, had already been completed before the 2024 amendments made the process redundant. They requested the Commission to announce the election schedule for ICT without further delay.
What did the federal government and ICT administration say?
From the government’s side, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the Chief Commissioner Islamabad appeared before the Commission. The ministry informed the Commission that the amendment bill was in its final stage before the parliamentary committee and noted that the undefined “Businessman” category could create complications in the future. The Chief Commissioner relied on merely endorsing the view point of the ministry.
