Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to contest the Islamabad local elections scheduled for December 20, with its regional leadership directing district and town organisations to file nomination papers in every ward across all union councils between November 2 and 6.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the national body that runs polls, has fixed polling for that date. PTI’s Islamabad wing president Amir Mughal said the party would contest all 125 union council seats.
How the party reached the decision
According to a party statement, Mughal, Shoaib Shaheen and Malik Aamir held more than 25 meetings across Islamabad’s three electoral constituencies over three days. The decision followed online consultations with around 400 office-bearers from regional and district organisations, eight town organisations, all 125 union councils, and wings including labour, the Insaf Students Federation, youth, traders and women, plus the advisory council, working committee and core committee.
The statement said about 95% of those office-bearers supported taking part. Mughal separately said the party had sought public views across the city and claimed that over 95% of people consulted also favoured contesting. He said supporters felt the government could not do more against the party than it already was, and that PTI would contest regardless of which election symbols candidates receive.
The party said it would field candidates committed to public service and loyal to the political ideology of founder Imran Khan, giving preference to workers who had stayed active in the party’s political struggle.
Concerns over the law and the schedule
PTI criticised the existing local government law, arguing that elections under it would leave elected representatives without meaningful powers over basic municipal services such as street cleaning, while concentrating authority in the bureaucracy. It also opposed a reported plan to replace direct election of chairmen and vice chairmen with an indirect vote by councillors, calling that arrangement a possible route to pre-poll rigging and alleging councillors could be intimidated or pressured.
The party questioned a proposed announcement of results four days after polling. Noting that the commission had already postponed the election four times, Mughal said he feared another delay, which he linked to PTI’s popularity. The party said it would press for the Islamabad local elections to go ahead as scheduled.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Earlier: The Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the Islamabad local polls four times, according to PTI’s Islamabad leadership.
- Over three days before the Wednesday announcement: Mughal, Shoaib Shaheen and Malik Aamir held more than 25 meetings across three constituencies; about 400 office-bearers were consulted online.
- Wednesday: PTI’s Islamabad wing confirmed it will contest all 125 union council seats.
- November 2–6: District and town organisations are to file nomination papers in every ward across all union councils.
- December 20: Polling day set by the ECP for the capital’s local government elections.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PTI ne faisla kiya hai ke Islamabad ki local body elections mein hissa legi. Voting 20 December ko honi hai, aur nomination papers 2 se 6 November ke darmiyan jama karane hain. Party tamam 125 union council seats par candidate khara karne wali hai. Is se shehar ki safai aur municipal mamlaat ke munakhib numainde muntakhib ho sakte hain, agar elections waqt par hon.
