Local Government Elections in Islamabad Scheduled for December 20, Announces Election Commission; Special Secretary Details History of Multiple Delays and Delimitation Challenges
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially announced the election schedule for the local government polls in the city of Islamabad.The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially announced the Local Government Polls Election Schedule in Islamabad, which is set to be held on December 20, 2026.
Candidates are advised to submit their nomination papers from November 2 to 6 and papers will be scrutinized from November 9 to 13. Protest against the rejection of nomination papers can be made on November 14 to November 18, while the appellate bodies will decide on the appeals from November 19 to November 23. The candidates will be able to withdraw their papers till Nov. 25 and the election symbols will be allotted on Nov. 26 while the final election results will be compiled from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24.
Local Government Elections Schedule, Key Highlights of Local Government Elections Briefing in Islamabad.
The five-member commission, presided by the Chief Election Commissioner, had previously heard the case of the delay in local elections in Islamabad under the Local Government Act of 2015.
History of Delays: During the hearing, Federal Interior Secretary and ECP officials appeared before the commission. In presenting the facts, Ecp Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Malik had informed the forum that the commission has already done delimitation six times and issued election schedules four times in the past.
Ordinance Complications: The Special Secretary explained that the last election schedule was issued on 9th October 2025, and the elections had been scheduled for February 2026, but the government later promulgated an ordinance. The ECP started a new delimitation process after getting new data and maps, but the ordinance ended on September 6, which led to the present final schedule.