The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 has introduced a new structure of the local government in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in an apparent effort to align it with the existing National Assembly constituencies as well as to reinforce the continuance and powers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
According to the official gazette notification of the ordinance, available with FAFEN, the ordinance introduces amendments to 15 sections of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act (ICTLGA), 2015. These amendments have replaced the existing Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) with three Town Corporations, introduced changes to the mode of mayoral and reserved-seat elections, reduced the representation of women, youth, non-Muslims, and peasants/workers, and revised provisions concerning the role of unelected administrators. Earlier, the federal cabinet had approved these proposals on January 2.
Check the timeline of developments in ICT LG elections since 2021
What changes have been made regarding the structure of LGs?
The ordinance has amended Section 4 of the ICTLGA, 2015 to provide for the division of the ICT into three Town Corporations instead of a single MCI. The amended provision states that each Town Corporation shall, “as far as practicable,” correspond to the territorial limits of a National Assembly constituency. Each Town Corporation will be further subdivided into Union Councils.
In addition, Section 6 of the ICTLGA, 2015 has been substituted to align with the new Town Corporation model. Unlike its previous version, which fixed the number of Union Councils at 125, the amended Section 6 does not specify the number of Union Councils. Instead, it authorizes the federal government to determine and notify the number of Union Councils in each Town Corporation.
However, it retained the provision introduced through a parliament-approved amendment in August 2024, which authorized the federal government to increase or decrease the number of Union Councils on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior, which now seems redundant considering the power granted under Section 6.
Unlike earlier provisions, the ordinance explicitly prohibits changing the number of Union Councils after the announcement of an election schedule. Previously, the government had increased the number of Union Councils from 101 to 125 after the issuance of the election schedule.
Under the revised Section 6, the ECP retains the responsibility for delimiting and notifying Union Councils in accordance with the principles laid down in the law and the Elections Act, 2017. The limits of the Union Councils shall be notified by the federal government, while the ECP will carry out delimitation based on population equality, the latest official census, and administrative convenience.
At the same time, Sub-Sections (2) and (3) of Section 7 relating to the delimitation of wards within Union Councils have been omitted. This means that Union Councils will now function as multi-member constituencies for the election of all nine general members, instead of being divided into separate wards.
Does MCI stand abolished instantly?
Notwithstanding the new structure, the ordinance allows the MCI, as functioning before the commencement of the ordinance, to continue exercising its functions, powers and duties until Town Corporations are formally constituted and notified.
What would be the composition of the new LGs?
The ordinance amends Section 12, which earlier defined the composition of the Metropolitan Corporation, to specify the composition of Town Corporations. Each Town Corporation will comprise a Mayor, two Deputy Mayors, all Union Council Chairmen within its jurisdiction as general members, and eight reserved seats, including four women and one seat each for peasants/workers, youth, traders/businessmen, and non-Muslims.
This restructuring reduces representation on reserved seats. Across the three Town Corporations, there will be 12 women members in total, compared to 41 women members in the MCI. This means women’s representation has declined by more than 70 percent. Similarly, the number of reserved seats for youth, peasants/workers, non-Muslims, and technocrats has been halved, with the technocrat category replaced by traders/businessmen. Earlier, there were six seats in MCI for each of these categories.
Will these be party-based elections held through secret ballot?
The ordinance omits Section 14 of the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, which had explicitly provided for elections to be held on a party basis through secret ballot and adult franchise. The omission removes any express legal basis for party-based local government elections in the ICT.
Through amendments to Section 15, the mode of election for general members of Union Councils has been altered. Instead of ward-based elections, the entire Union Council will now constitute a single multi-member constituency. Voters will cast one vote, and the nine candidates securing the highest number of votes will be declared elected.
The amended law allows returned candidates to join a political party within 30 days of notification, which is yet another indication of non-party-based elections, although the ordinance does not explicitly bar political parties from supporting candidates.
Moreover, elections for Union Council Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and members on reserved seats are to be held indirectly through a show of hands, replacing the earlier requirement of secret ballot.
Similarly, Section 16 has been amended to provide for all Union Council Chairmen to be members of their respective Town Corporations. Mayors and Deputy Mayors, along with reserved-seat members, will be elected by the Town Corporations through a show of hands.
The earlier version of ICTLGA 2015 provided for all LG elections to be held through secret ballot, as enshrined under the Article 226 of the Constitution.
What changes has been made reg. unelected administrators?
In addition to restructuring LGs, the ordinance introduces amendments to Sections 29, 63 88 and 93. These sections deal with the appointment of administrators upon expiry of elected LGs term, exercise of LGs executive authority, local taxation, and federal government’s instruction to LGs.
The amendment to Section 29 removes the earlier restriction limiting the appointment of unelected administrators to a maximum of six months. The amended provision now allows administrators to continue indefinitely after their initial appointment. Since the expiry of the last elected local government in the ICT in 2021, the six-month limit had required periodic re-notification of the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad as MCI administrator. Additionally, a new sub-section under Section 29 authorizes the government to appoint an administrator whenever a local government is deemed “not functional,” without defining the criteria for such non-functionality.
The ordinance also inserts a new sub-section in Section 63 to clarify that Deputy Mayors of Town Corporations and Vice Chairmen of UCs will exercise only those powers delegated to them by their respective heads. Previously, the law did not define the powers of deputy officeholders.
Through amendments to Section 88, administrators have been empowered to initiate and levy local taxes. However, such proposals, after being vetted by the federal government, must be laid before the National Assembly, which may disapprove them within sixty days or otherwise, they will be deemed approved.
Section 93 has also been amended to bring administrators within the scope of the federal government’s power to issue binding directions.
