Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has requested a three-day extension for submitting nomination papers for the upcoming local government (LG) elections in Islamabad, citing administrative hurdles caused by a newly announced public holiday.
The request was made after the Islamabad administration declared Friday, December 26, a public holiday due to the visit of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. PTI argued that the holiday could disrupt the nomination process and limit fair participation by candidates.
In a formal application submitted to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, PTI’s Local Government Committee Secretary, Anjum Shehzad Tanoli, proposed extending the deadline to December 27. The party urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consider the request in the interest of transparency and smooth conduct of the electoral process.
PTI maintained that the public holiday may create practical difficulties for candidates and election offices, especially as the first phase of the Islamabad LG elections will be held across 125 union councils. Each union council requires nomination papers for nine councillors, making the process time-sensitive and administratively demanding.
The party warned that keeping the deadline on the last working day could lead to overcrowding, delays, and procedural complications. It stressed that a short extension would ease pressure, encourage wider participation, and help ensure fairness in the elections.
A copy of the application was also forwarded to the Election Commission’s Islamabad office for record and prompt consideration.
Last month, the ECP announced local government elections in the federal capital after a long delay. In its written order, the commission declared recent amendments to the Islamabad Local Government Act 2015 unconstitutional and directed relevant departments to begin preparations for announcing the election schedule.
