- IHC suspended the ECP's October 21, 2026 order and election schedule for Islamabad local government polls.
- Justice Umair Majeed Malik issued notice to the ECP and sought its response by November 26.
- The petitioner says the schedule was issued under the original 2015 law after the 2026 ordinance lapsed.
- The last elected local government in the capital completed its term in February 2021.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) order and election schedule for Islamabad local government polls in the federal capital, both dated October 21, 2026.
In this article
Justice Umair Majeed Malik, sitting as a single bench, announced a verdict that had been reserved on a petition seeking to stop the elections and suspend the schedule. The court also issued a notice to the ECP and asked for its response by November 26. The ruling puts the Islamabad local government schedule on hold.
What the petitioner argues about Islamabad local government polls
The petition was filed by Chaudhry Amjad Ali through his counsel, Barrister Adil Aziz Qazi, under Article 199 of the Constitution. It names the ECP, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other authorities as respondents.
Counsel argued that Articles 140-A(2), 218(3) and 219(d) of the Constitution oblige the Election Commission to organise and conduct local government elections honestly, justly and fairly, and in accordance with law. He said the Elections Act, 2017 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 provide the legal framework.
The petitioner's case is that the Islamabad local government schedule was issued under the original 2015 law without the earlier delimitation being restored. He argues that the ECP's decision came suddenly, after the 2026 ordinance had stopped having effect.
I make it clear that the local government elections will be held in Islamabad.
Sikandar Sultan Raja, Chief Election Commissioner
How the Islamabad local government legal framework changed
Under the original 2015 Act, the capital had one Metropolitan Corporation and 125 Union Councils, each divided into nine wards. The ECP issued delimitation timelines on December 12, 2024, and later issued an election programme dated December 26, 2025, which was recalled.
In the meantime, the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 2026 changed the structure. It introduced three Town Corporations, did away with the nine-ward system and provided for delimitation on the basis of census blocks, which raised the number of Union Councils from 125 to 130.
The ECP then issued revised delimitation timelines on August 25, 2026 and released the final list of 130 Union Councils on October 14, 2026. According to the petitioner's counsel, the ordinance ceased to have effect under Article 89 of the Constitution after one 120-day extension. That revived the original 2015 Act, and the ECP decided on October 21 to hold the polls under it.
| Feature | LG Act 2015 (original) | LG Ordinance 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Corporations | One Metropolitan Corporation | Three Town Corporations |
| Union Councils | 125 | 130 |
| Ward structure | Nine wards per Union Council | Nine-ward structure omitted |
A long-overdue Islamabad local government election
The term of the last elected Islamabad local government system, in the capital territory, ended in February 2021. Fresh elections have not been held since, for what are described as various legal and administrative reasons.
Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017 requires the Election Commission to hold new local government elections within 120 days of a term's expiry.
Timeline: Islamabad local government dispute
- February 2021Term of the last elected local government in Islamabad expires.
- December 12, 2024ECP issues delimitation timelines.
- December 26, 2025ECP issues an election programme, which is later recalled.
- August 25, 2026ECP issues revised delimitation timelines.
- October 14, 2026ECP issues the final list of 130 Union Councils.
- October 21, 2026ECP orders polls under the original 2015 Act and issues the election schedule.
- November 13, 2026IHC suspends the order and schedule and issues notice to the ECP.
- November 26, 2026Deadline for the ECP's response to the court.
Explained: why the Islamabad local government schedule is disputed
The dispute turns on which law governs the polls. The ECP decided on October 21 to hold the elections under the original 2015 Act. The petitioner argues that this schedule was issued after the 2026 ordinance had stopped having effect and without the earlier delimitation being restored.
The 2026 ordinance had introduced three Town Corporations and census-block delimitation, which raised the number of Union Councils from 125 to 130. The ECP had already released the final list of 130 Union Councils on October 14, 2026. According to the petitioner's counsel, the ordinance ceased to have effect under Article 89 of the Constitution after one 120-day extension, which revived the original 2015 Act.
In short, the Islamabad local government polls sit between two legal frameworks, according to the petition. The court has suspended the October 21 order and schedule and has asked the ECP to respond by November 26.
Chief Election Commissioner's remarks on Islamabad local government polls
According to reports, the ruling followed remarks by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja a day earlier. He was heading a three-member bench hearing an alleged code-of-conduct violation in the recent NA-77 by-election in Gujranwala. He reportedly accused the federal government of trying to sabotage the Islamabad local government polls.
He said the government had ordered that teachers would not be assigned election duty in the capital. He asked: “Where will the Election Commission bring staff from? The Election Commission issues directions to the prime minister and the government; directions do not come from them to us.”
He also said the polls would go ahead as scheduled.
The October 21 order and schedule for the Islamabad local government polls have been suspended, and the ECP has until November 26 to file its response to the court.
Questions and answers
What did the Islamabad High Court decide?
Justice Umair Majeed Malik suspended the ECP's October 21, 2026 order and election schedule for Islamabad local government polls. He also issued a notice to the ECP.
Who challenged the schedule?
Chaudhry Amjad Ali filed the petition through his counsel, Barrister Adil Aziz Qazi. It names the ECP, the Interior and Law ministries and the CDA as respondents.
When will the court hear the matter again?
The court has asked the ECP to submit its response by November 26.
Why does the petitioner challenge the schedule?
He says the schedule was issued under the original 2015 law without the earlier delimitation being restored. He argues that this happened after the 2026 ordinance had stopped having effect.
Under which provision was the petition filed?
The petition was filed under Article 199 of the Constitution.
When did the last elected local government's term end?
The term of the last elected Islamabad local government system ended in February 2021. Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017 requires new elections within 120 days of a term's expiry.
How many Union Councils does the capital have under the two frameworks?
The original 2015 Act provided for 125 Union Councils, each divided into nine wards. The 2026 ordinance raised the number to 130 and did away with the nine-ward system. The ECP released the final list of 130 Union Councils on October 14, 2026.
What did the Chief Election Commissioner say?
Sikandar Sultan Raja said the local government elections will be held in Islamabad and that the polls would go ahead as scheduled. He reportedly accused the federal government of trying to sabotage the polls.
Image: Zacharie Grossen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
