ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday extended the deadline for filing nomination papers for the local government elections in Islamabad, which are slated to be held on December 20.

As per the previous schedule, candidates were supposed to submit their nomination papers from November 2 to 6. However, after the expiry of the four-day deadline, the ECP extended it for two days to Nov 8. Sources said political parties had requested the commission to extend the deadline.

There is no change in the schedule of polling day as the ECP said the elections will be held on Dec 20.

The term of the local government expired in February 2021, and the ECP was supposed to conduct the elections within 120 days. However, the federal government and the ECP spent their time carrying out delimitation and announcing election schedules, only to postpone the polls later.

The delimitation of constituencies and union councils was carried out six times, while the election schedule was issued four times. Under the last election schedule, polling was scheduled in February 2026. Later, an ordinance proposing changes to the Local Government Act was issued. The ordinance lapsed on Sept 6.

Meanwhile, ECP last month decided to hold the elections in Islamabad on the basis of Local Government Act of 2015, which is still in field. This means that polls would be held in 50 constituencies, after which the mayor and deputy mayors would be elected like the previous elections held in 2015-16.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2026