ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Wednesday that it has postponed the local government elections in the country’s capital. The schedule for these elections will remain suspended until further notice.
The postponement is due to a recent amendment to the Islamabad Local Government Act. Last month, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Islamabad Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 into law, following its approval by both houses of the bicameral parliament.
The amendment increases the number of elected representatives at the union council level in Islamabad. Under the new law, in addition to the chairman and vice chairman, 15 additional representatives will be elected. This includes nine members of the union council, one farmer or laborer, one minority representative, one youth voice, and three women representatives.
Candidates for general seats will be elected directly through a secret ballot. Once the electoral process is complete, the UC Secretary will convene a meeting to elect the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
