Promulgation of Presidential Ordinance: ECP postpones ICT LG polls, withdraws schedule

ISLAMABAD: The long-delayed local government elections in the federal Capital finally stand postponed yet again, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially withdrawn the schedule following the promulgation of a Presidential Ordinance by the federal government last week.

The LG elections in Islamabad were scheduled for 15th February 2026.

A related notification issued by the electoral body on Friday read that consequent upon the promulgation of Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, dated 10th January 2026, by the federal government, wherein the structure of local governments and mode of LG Elections in ICT was changed, the ECP recalled the LG polls programme issued through relevant notifications last month.

The ICT LG term expired on 14th February 2021, but the ECP failed to hold the LG elections in the ICT within the 120-day stipulated period under Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017.

This law provides that the ECP shall hold LG elections within 120 days of the expiry of the LG term in a province, cantonment, or ICT.

Keeping this in view, the ECP was required to hold the LG elections in the ICT by June 2021.

On 18th November last year, the ECP announced to hold LG elections in the federal Capital “immediately,” and directed its secretariat to issue the schedule forthwith. The related schedule was issued after almost three weeks, on 9th December.

Presently, the local bodies are in place in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and cantonments - but LG elections in Punjab and the federal Capital have been delayed since 2021.

The LG term in Punjab expired on 31st December 2021.

The ECP has repeatedly said in official statements that “whenever” it finalises the preparations for LG polls, the LG laws as amended by the governments concerned, caused a delay in the elections.

Article 218(3) of the Constitution provides that it shall be the ECP’s duty to organise and conduct the elections, and to make such arrangements as are necessary, to ensure that an election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly, and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026