ISLAMABAD: For the first time in history, residents of the federal capital will go to the polls to elect local government representatives on Monday.

The last local government elections in Islamabad were held on a non-party basis in 1979, but those were limited to the rural areas around the capital.

Islamabad, which now has a population of around two million, has been divided into 50 union councils for the polls.

As many as 676,795 registered voters will be electing local councillors and UC chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, who will go on to sit on the Islamabad Metropoli­tan Corporation (IMC).

Take a look: Rifts threaten PML-N’s chances in LG polls in Islamabad

According to the Election Commission, 2,407 candida­tes are taking parts in these elections. There are 972 independents, 506 of PML-N, 479 of PTI, 164 of Jamaat-i-Islami and 81 of the PPP.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015