ISLAMABAD: Labour unions and civil society organisations have rejected recent amendments to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) local government law, calling them a violation of constitutional guarantees and an attempt to marginalise workers, peasants and women from grassroots political representation ahead of upcoming local government elections.
Local government polls are scheduled to be held in Islamabad on February 15 across all 125 union councils of the federal capital. However, a coalition of labour unions, rights groups and community-based organisations has expressed strong opposition to changes they say undermine the spirit of inclusive local governance.
In a joint press release, Coalition-38 — a nationwide network of associations, labour unions and human rights activists — described the amendments as a “blatant assault on constitutional rights.” The group alleged that the revised law allows businessmen and technocrats to contest seats reserved for peasants and workers, while reducing women’s representation from 33 per cent to 7 per cent.
According to the coalition, these changes violate several constitutional provisions, including Articles 3, 25, 32 and 38, which relate to social justice, equality and the promotion of local government institutions. The statement also claimed the amendments conflict with Pakistan’s commitments under international frameworks such as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The press release noted that the ICT Local Government Act defines peasants and workers as economically vulnerable citizens reliant on subsistence labour. It argued that inserting undefined categories such as “businessmen” and technocrats into these reserved seats effectively excludes poorer segments of society from political participation. “A daily-wage worker cannot compete with wealth, influence and patronage networks,” the statement said, adding that reserved seats were designed to offset such disparities.
A daily-wage worker cannot compete with wealth, influence and patronage networks, nor is that the intention, the press release said.https://t.co/G5MPwkaiaM
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 2, 2026
The organisations also highlighted what they described as a history of delays and uncertainty surrounding local government elections in Islamabad. Between 2021 and 2025, election schedules were announced multiple times and subsequently withdrawn, sometimes shortly before polling, without public explanation. The coalition alleged that the latest amendments, introduced ahead of the newly announced February 2026 elections, risk predetermining outcomes even if voting takes place.
According to the statement, reserved seats for workers, peasants and women represented the last meaningful avenue for grassroots representation in local councils. Reducing these protections, it said, reflects resistance to genuine participation by marginalised groups.
The coalition has demanded the immediate removal of businessmen and technocrats from seats reserved for peasants and workers, restoration of the women’s quota to 33 per cent, and the holding of direct elections for all local government positions, including mayor and deputy mayor. It also called for full devolution of powers to local governments in line with Article 140-A of the Constitution and the Charter of Democracy.
“Local government is the foundation of democracy,” the statement said, warning that weakening it would have broader implications for democratic governance in the country.
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