ISLAMABAD: The schedule for the local bodies elections in Islamabad has been released by the Election Commission, setting February 15, 2026 as the polling date. The notification to this effect says the phase of submitting nomination forms will continue from December 22 to 27. The names of candidates will be published on December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted from December 30 to January 3.
Appeals against the decisions of the returning officers can be filed from January 5 to 8 and the decisions on the pleas will be announced between January 9 and 13, whereas the revised list of candidates will be released on January 14. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is January 15 and the allotment of election symbols will be done on January 16.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan will hear today (Wednesday) a complaint filed by the PTI-backed candidate Ms Shehar Naz Omar Ayub Khan against alleged grave irregularities, forgery and fabrication committed in the compilation of results in the recent by-poll in NA-18, Haripur.
According to the revised cause list issued by the Election Commission, the complaint has been filed under Sections 8 and 9 of the Elections Act, 2017 read with all the other enabling provisions thereof, against grave irregularities, forgery and fabrication committed in result compilation of the by-election result. In the by-poll, Babar Nawaz was returned after bagging 163,817 votes while his rival, PTI-backed Ms Shehar Naz, who is the spouse of Omar Ayub, obtained 120,395 votes. Omar Ayub had received 192,948 votes and Babar Nawaz had pocketed 112,389 votes in last year’s general elections from this constituency. The Election Commission will also hold a preliminary hearing on an urgent complaint alleging serious breaches of the Elections Act 2017 and Article 218(3) of the Constitution.
Another case fixed for hearing is an application filed by the losing independent candidate Muhammad Iqbal for recounting, re-polling and stay of final notification of the returned candidate of PP-269, Muzaffargarh and application for recounting in polling stations Nos127, 117, 116, 82, 103, 22, 59, 72 of this constituency along with an application to conduct re-poll in the constituency. Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi of PPP was returned from this constituency, pocketing 55,611 votes whereas Muhammad Iqbal had finished second with 46,510 votes.
