Who Governs Islamabad? The Case for Local Bodies & Citizen Participation
Islamabad is the capital of a federation of over 240 million people, yet its own 2.5 million residents have no elected local government.
For years, the city has been run through a patchwork of federal oversight, bureaucratic administration, and ad-hoc arrangements – without mayors, without local councils, and without a formal mechanism for citizen participation.What does this vacuum mean for urban planning, service delivery, accountability, and democracy itself? Does public participation actually matter in how a capital city is governed? And what can we learn from the experience of other cities in Pakistan and beyond?
Join us for a discussion on Islamabad’s long-standing local government crisis, the legal and constitutional questions it raises, and why bringing power closer to the people is essential for a functioning capital.
About the Speakers:
- Ayub Malik
(President National Party, Punjab Chapter) - Zahid Islam
(Executive Director, Sangat Development Foundation) - Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi
(Former Deputy Mayor, Islamabad) - Jameel Khokhar
(Ex Chairman Candidate, UC-77 and NA-47) - Nayyab Ali
(Former Independent Candidate for NA-46 and NA-47) - Dr. Bashir Shah
(Psychologist and Human Rights Activist — Moderator)
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
Click here for Google Maps Location
