Local government elections in Islamabad are set for a potential fifth postponement after the federal cabinet approved amendments to the 2015 Local Government Act on Friday.
Originally scheduled for February 15, the polls now seem improbable following the changes. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has yet to confirm the delay officially.
The cabinet greenlit 14 amendments, including renaming the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad to “Town Corporations.” The new setup proposes three town corporations, each matching a National Assembly constituency boundary—Islamabad has three NA seats.
The decision stemmed from the Committee for Cabinet Cases’ review on December 30, 2025, which also endorsed the Islamabad Capital Local Government Amendment Ordinance, 2025, per an official post-meeting statement.
Last month, when the ECP announced the schedule, PTI’s local chapter predicted the government would dodge the February vote. PML-N leaders dismissed this, touting their past win and insisting on amendments for improved services.
The prior local government’s term ended in February 2021, leaving Islamabad’s 2.5 million residents without elected representation amid woes like water shortages and crumbling roads. Elections have been delayed repeatedly for various reasons, with the ECP redrawing constituencies and issuing—and retracting—schedules, even canceling polls a day before.
When PTI governed federally until 2021, it took no major steps for the polls despite a 120-day requirement. The subsequent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition also stalled them.
Under PDM, plans for 50 union councils (UCs) shifted to 101, then 125 amid delays. Last year, after preparations for 125 UCs, the government pushed for more general seats. Last month, the ECP opted for 125 UCs, but fresh amendments now reshape the system into three town corporations.
Islamabad’s only LG elections occurred in 2015-16, when PML-N triumphed, electing Sheikh Anser Aziz as mayor across 50 union councils.
