Islamabad: The Federal Cabinet’s decision to approve a proposal to delay local government elections in Islamabad has stirred discussion about the potential suspension of the election schedule for the fourth time. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) remains the constitutional authority responsible for finalizing the election timeline, having already set the schedule for December 9, 2025.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the January 2, 2026 cabinet meeting where the proposal to amend the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 was approved, aiming to defer the elections that have been pending since 2021. The meeting included a briefing by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad on the status of local government elections.

The electoral process is currently progressing under the ECP’s guidance, with the election schedule formally announced in December. As part of the process, over 4,000 nomination papers have been filed for 1,125 general seats in 125 union councils. The ECP holds the exclusive authority to conduct or postpone elections, necessitating a formal decision for any changes to the ongoing process.

The ECP will now assess the legal ramifications of the cabinet’s decision. Its upcoming order will be pivotal in determining whether the local government elections in Islamabad proceed as planned or are postponed once more.