Capital to have 130 union councils

The regional election commissioner, acting as the appellate authority for delimitation in Islamabad, has rejected all objections to the boundaries of the federal capital's 130 union councils and their blocks, declaring the delimitation decisions valid.

With the decision, all 130 union councils of Islamabad have been finalised. Under the new Islamabad Local Government Act, the capital will have three municipal town corporations, three mayors and six deputy mayors.

Each of Islamabad's three National Assembly constituencies will have one municipal town corporation, designated Municipal Town Corporation-I, Municipal Town Corporation-II and Municipal Town Corporation-III.

The delimitation appellate authority has issued orders dismissing the objections.

A complete report will be sent to the Election Commission on Wednesday, after which the final notification will be issued.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court has remanded 27 appeals filed by political parties and candidates against the delimitation of union councils and councillor blocks in Rawalpindi and Murree districts to the District Election Commission, Rawalpindi, for fresh hearings.

The court directed the election authorities to hear all petitioners and issue fresh decisions on the delimitation of union councils and blocks in accordance with the merits of the cases and the relevant territorial boundaries.

The District Election Commission said it had been informed of the court's decision. Notices would be issued to all applicants next week, and their cases would be heard individually before fresh decisions were made.

Under the new Punjab Local Government Act 2026, Rawalpindi city has also been divided into two municipal town corporations, which will have two mayors and four deputy mayors.

Rawalpindi district has been divided into 17 local government entities, including two town corporations, five municipal committees, six tehsil councils and four cantonment boards.