ECP warns govt over delay in Islamabad LG elections

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a stern warning to the government over persistent delays in holding local government (LG) elections in Islamabad.

A high-level meeting on Islamabad’s LG elections was chaired by Secretary Election Commission that also hinted at issuing binding directives if it fails to act promptly.

In the meeting, it was decided that ECP would now hold regular hearings and, if necessary, issue binding directives to ensure timely conduct of the long-overdue elections in Islamabad.

The secretary ECP said that the term of Islamabad’s Local Governments expired on February 14, 2021, and despite repeated delays, the ECP has remained actively engaged in preparations for fresh elections. “The Commission remains committed to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility,” he affirmed.

During the meeting, which was attended by the Special Secretary, Additional Secretary Interior, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, and Joint Secretary Interior, the Interior Ministry officials confirmed that the proposed amendments to the Islamabad Local Government Act 2025 were formally submitted to the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) on April 30, 2025.

The legislation will move to the Federal Cabinet for final approval once cleared by the CCLC.

The secretary directed the Ministry of Interior to ensure immediate finalization of the legislation, enabling the ECP to proceed with election arrangements without further delay. He added that although the draft law had been reviewed and endorsed by the ECP, the enactment process remains incomplete.

A press statement issued after the meeting read that the ECP  also reviewed the amendments passed in August 2024, and identified several inconsistencies. Authorities were instructed to develop compliant rules and forms in line with the amended Act to facilitate a lawful election process. However, the legislation is yet to be enacted.

The ECP has completed the delimitation process, and it is now the responsibility of the Interior Ministry to finalize the legislation so that local government elections can be held in the federal capital.

An ECP spokesperson later confirmed that the Chief Commissioner Islamabad has assured full cooperation with the Commission for the elections, contingent upon timely parliamentary approval of the revised legal framework.

The Secretary stated that the Election Commission has successfully conducted local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan and has completed the delimitation process.