The request comes after the Islamabad administration announced a public holiday in the federal capital on Friday, December 26, in view of the arrival of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The request was submitted to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja by Anjum Shehzad Tanoli, Secretary of PTI’s Local Government Committee, proposing that the final date for filing nomination papers be extended to December 27.
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In its application, PTI argued that the electoral process could be adversely affected due to a local public holiday scheduled for December 26. The party urged the Election Commission to grant the extension in the interest of transparency and a fair electoral process.
The request noted that the first phase of the local government elections in Islamabad will be held across 125 union councils, with nomination papers required for nine councillors in each union council. It said the public holiday could create administrative difficulties for candidates as well as for the concerned offices.
PTI further maintained that retaining the deadline on the last working day could result in congestion and procedural issues, whereas a three-day extension would facilitate smoother participation and ensure a more transparent process. A copy of the application was also sent to the Chief Election Commissioner in Islamabad.
Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced that local government elections would be held in Islamabad, ending a prolonged delay in the electoral process in the federal capital.
In its written order, the ECP ruled that recent amendments to the Islamabad Local Government Act 2015 were inconsistent with the Constitution and the law, and directed its relevant wing to begin preparations for announcing the election schedule.