Overview
- The Election Commission of Pakistan rescinded the previously announced February 15 local election timetable for the capital, citing a changed mode of polls.
- President Asif Ali Zardari approved the Islamabad Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance on January 10, replacing the Metropolitan Corporation with three town corporations.
- The ordinance expands powers for a government-appointed administrator, allowing an open-ended tenure until new polls and authorizing the imposition of taxes and fees.
- The Islamabad High Court issued notices to the federal government and the ECP on a Jamaat-e-Islami petition challenging the ordinance, with the next hearing set for January 27.
- Thousands of candidates from 125 union councils had already filed nominations, and political parties as well as civil society groups have publicly opposed the changes.