Islamabad, December 25, 2025: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking a three-day extension for submission of nomination papers in the upcoming local body elections in Islamabad.
According to the application submitted to the ECP’s Diary Branch, Baldiat Committee Secretary Anjum Shahzad Tanoli requested the chief election commissioner extend the deadline to December 27. The request cited a government-declared local holiday on December 26, which, according to the PTI, would significantly affect the filing process.
“Islamabad comprises 125 union councils (UCs), and in each union council, at least nine councillors are required to submit their nomination papers. The announced holiday will create serious administrative and logistical difficulties for candidates, proposers, and concerned offices, leading to unnecessary congestion and hardship on the final day,” the application stated.
Tanoli requested that the ECP extend the deadline by at least three days “in the larger interest of transparency, fairness, and effective participation in the democratic process.”
PTI Regional President Amir Mughal told the media that insufficient time had been allocated for the nomination process in the first phase of local elections, which covers 125 UCs and 1,125 councillor seats. He also criticised recent amendments to the Local Government Act of 2015, claiming the changes were intended to facilitate rigging and horse-trading by abolishing direct elections for chairman and vice-chairman posts and manipulating councillor loyalties.
“Despite these challenges, PTI is committed to actively participating in local elections as the people of Islamabad have always supported PTI and rejected the PML-N,” Mughal said. He added that due to the ECP’s decision to revoke the PTI’s election symbol, all party workers have been instructed to file their nominations under the “Sunni Ittehad Council” banner.
The ECP has already announced the schedule for the Islamabad Capital Territory elections. Nomination papers were to be issued by returning officers (ROs) from December 19, with December 22–27 (excluding December 25, Quaid-i-Azam Day) set as the filing period. Nominated candidates’ names will be published on December 29, with scrutiny by ROs scheduled from December 30 to January 3, 2026.
Appeals against ROs’ decisions may be filed from January 5–8 and will be decided by the Appellate Authority between January 9–13. The revised candidate list will be published on January 14, and January 15 will be the final day for candidates to withdraw. Election symbols will then be allotted, and the final list of contesting candidates published.
Polling is scheduled for February 15, 2026, with results expected to be consolidated between February 16 and 19. The ECP has stated that polling hours will run from 8am to 4pm, with all activities to take place during office hours.
