Government trying to sabotage Islamabad LG polls, says CEC; Dec 20 vote will go ahead

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has accused the federal government of trying to sabotage Islamabad’s local government elections, making it clear the polls will be held as scheduled on December 20. Heading a three-member Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) bench on Thursday, he said the government had ordered that teachers should not be assigned duties in the Islamabad local government elections.

‘Where will the ECP bring staff from?’

Raja asked where the Election Commission would bring polling staff from if teachers were kept out. “The Election Commission issues directions to the prime minister and the government; directions do not come from them to us,” he said. Taking serious notice of the government’s order, he added: “The federal government wants to sabotage the Islamabad local government elections. I make it clear that local government elections will be held in Islamabad.”

NA-77: Tarar fails to appear

The bench was also hearing alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct in the NA-77 by-election in Gujranwala. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar failed to appear before the commission, drawing a sharp rebuke from the CEC, who warned that failure to honour the ECP’s directives could have “potentially grim consequences”. The hearing was adjourned until December 1.

Background: no elected local government for five years

The ECP has scheduled Islamabad’s local government elections for December 20. The federal capital has been without an elected local government since the previous term expired in February 2021 — nearly five years. Raja’s constitutionally mandated five-year term as CEC ended on January 26, 2025, but he continues in office under the 26th Amendment.