The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved delaying Islamabad’s local government elections, sources said Friday.
The meeting ratified decisions from the Cabinet Committee on Legislation dated December 3 and 30, 2025. This follows the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) earlier schedule for polls on February 15.
Scrutiny of nomination papers was set for December 30, 2025, to January 3, 2026; appeals from January 5-8; tribunals to resolve them January 9-13. Withdrawals by January 15, final candidate lists and symbols on January 16, with results compilation February 16-19.
Sources noted the cabinet discussed new local government election laws for the capital, briefed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Islamabad. It approved legislation mirroring Punjab’s model.
