Islamabad(newsviews) Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Islamabad chapter has demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should extend the deadline for submission of nomination papers for the upcoming local government elections in the capital by at least 10 days.

PTI Islamabad president and core committee member Amir Mughal, while talking to Dawn, alleged that candidates were unable to obtain nomination papers on Friday despite the schedule issued by the ECP for the elections in 125 union councils.

He claimed that no staff was present at the offices of returning officers. He said watchmen at some schools and offices told candidates that the nomination papers would be available on Monday.

Mr Mughal demanded an immediate extension of at least 10 days in the nomination-paper submission schedule, saying candidates should be given sufficient time to obtain, complete and submit the forms. He also questioned the conduct of the local elections, alleging that the government and the ECP were preparing to delay or avoid the polls for the fifth time.

The PTI leader criticised the legal framework under which the Islamabad local elections were being held, claiming that elected local representatives would have limited authority while major powers would remain with the bureaucracy.

He also alleged that the same Election Commission leadership was overseeing the local elections that had conducted the 2024 general elections, which he said were rigged.

Mr Mughal said PTI had decided to contest the elections after consultations with different party organisations. He claimed that more than 25 meetings had been held over the past three days, involving more than 400 office-bearers.

He also claimed that residents facing displacement from their ancestral land and homes, as well as people living in informal settlements, would express their grievances through the ballot.

He said Islamabad had traditionally been a stronghold of PTI and expressed confidence that the party would perform strongly in the local elections.