Opinion
Pakistan's Politics Needs Rules Before It Needs Deals
Bilal Javed on four political fights this week, from new provinces to Islamabad's local polls and detentions, and why process matters more than a deal.
Election Commission of Pakistan
Election Commission of Pakistan: 5 The Indus Compass stories. Latest: Pakistan's Politics Needs Rules Before It Needs Deals. Key developments, background and…
5 stories on Election Commission of Pakistan since 27 September 2026; the latest was published on 13 November 2026.
Key developments
- Pakistan's Politics Needs Rules Before It Needs DealsIn about 48 hours this week, Pakistan saw a three-hour jail meeting with Imran Khan, the release of two of his sisters, a referendum idea on new provinces and an ECP warning over Islamabad's local polls.
- ECP serves MQM-P a show-cause notice over missed party electionsThe ECP issued a show-cause notice on October 26 to MQM-P for failing to hold intra-party elections by the extended deadline of October 15, 2026.
- Islamabad local government elections to be held on December 20Polling in Islamabad's local government elections will take place from 8am to 4pm on December 20.
- ECP orders Islamabad local government polls under 2015 lawThe Election Commission of Pakistan ordered local government elections in Islamabad to be held under the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, and directed its office to issue the schedule.
- Polling ends peacefully in Bahawalpur's NA-168 by-election as PML-N's Channar faces independent CheemaVoting closed largely peacefully in NA-168 Bahawalpur, where PML-N's Malik Munir Iqbal Channar faced independent Wali Dad Cheema for a seat left vacant in August.
Sindh
ECP serves MQM-P a show-cause notice over missed party elections
The ECP gave MQM-P 14 days to explain why it did not hold intra-party elections by the extended deadline, warning that its electoral symbol could be withheld.
Islamabad
Islamabad local government elections to be held on December 20
The ECP has scheduled Islamabad's local government elections for December 20, with nominations from November 2 to 6 and results due by December 24.
Islamabad
ECP orders Islamabad local government polls under 2015 law
The Election Commission ordered Islamabad's local government polls under the 2015 law after the government let an ordinance lapse, ending a five-year delay.
Punjab
Polling ends peacefully in Bahawalpur's NA-168 by-election as PML-N's Channar faces independent Cheema
Voting closed largely peacefully in NA-168 Bahawalpur, where PML-N's Malik Munir Iqbal Channar faced independent Wali Dad Cheema for a seat left vacant in August.