ECP announces to hold LG polls in Islamabad on February 15

• Candidates can submit nominations between Dec 22-27.
• Scrutiny scheduled from 30th Dec to 3rd Jan, says ECP.
• Adds tribunals to hear appeals from January 9-13, 2026.
  

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced that local government elections in Islamabad will be held on February 15, 2026.

In a statement, the election commission said that polling will take place from 8am to 4pm.

Returning officers will issue public notices for nomination papers on December 19, 2025, while candidates can submit their nomination papers between December 22 and 27, 2025, the ECP said.

The statement further read that the scrutiny of the nomination papers will take place from 30th December 2025 to 3rd January 2026.

The commission added that appeals against the scrutiny can be filed from January 5 to 8, 2026, and election tribunals will hear and dispose of these appeals between January 9-13, 2026.

Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers until January 15 2026, while the final list of candidates will be displayed on January 16 2026. The election symbols will also be allotted on January 16 2026.

Polling for the Islamabad local government elections is scheduled for 15th February 2026, and the results will be compiled from February 16 to 19, 2026.

The development comes months after the election body in October this year had announced to hold local government elections in Punjab in the last week of December 2025.

Headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Raja Sultan, the ECP bench also ruled to complete the delimitation process within two months.

“The local government elections have not been held in the country's biggest province. It is not only an embarrassment for the election commission but also for various governments [ruled during the delay],” CEC Raja remarked during the hearing.