ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the local government election schedule for the federal capital and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) October 21 notification, issuing a stay order and seeking reports and paragraph-wise comments from the commission and other respondents.
Justice Umer Majeed Malik issued a written order after hearing a petition filed by Amjad Ali. Barrister Adil Aziz Qazi appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
The petitioner argued that, under the law, each union council was divided into nine wards. The ECP had issued a delimitation schedule on December 12, 2024, and announced an election programme on December 26, 2025, after completing the delimitation process. However, that programme was subsequently withdrawn.
The petitioner submitted that the promulgation of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance 2026 led to the establishment of three town corporations and an increase in the number of union councils from 125 to 130. Under the ordinance, the nine-ward structure of union councils was abolished and a new delimitation mechanism based on census blocks was introduced.
The ECP issued a revised delimitation schedule on August 25, 2026, and published the final list of 130 union councils on October 14, 2026.
The petitioner argued that, after a 120-day extension, the Local Government Ordinance 2026 ceased to have effect under Article 89 of the Constitution, resulting in the revival of the Local Government Act 2015. The ECP subsequently decided, through its October 21, 2026 order, to hold elections under the revived law and issued the election schedule on the same day.
According to the petitioner, the ECP’s order did not determine delimitation for 125 union councils under the revived law, including their nine-ward structure, or the boundaries of the Metropolitan Corporation. The petitioner maintained that delimitation carried out under the amended law could not serve as the basis for elections under the restored Local Government Act 2015.
The petition further contended that fresh delimitation and preparation of electoral rolls under the Local Government Act 2015 and the Elections Act were necessary before holding elections. Conducting polls without the required delimitation would violate Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the Local Government Act 2015 and the Elections Act, besides resulting in a waste of public funds.
The court suspended the ECP’s October 21 notification and election schedule, directing the commission and other respondents to submit their reports and paragraph-wise comments by the next hearing on November 26, 2026.
The court adjourned further proceedings until November 26.
