Second phase of Sindh LG polls to be held on Jan 15, rules ECP
Pakistan
Chief Secretary and IG Sindh should ensure peaceful polls: ECP
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected a petition of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), seeking use of new voter lists for the Karachi and Hyderabad local government elections.
The MQM-P had challenged the decision of the ECP for the prospective use of two separate electoral rolls in the local government polls simultaneously. A three-member bench of the electoral body, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, had reserved the verdict on Friday.
The electoral watchdog ruled out further delay in the polls and said the second phase of the Sindh local government elections would be held on Jan 15 and the chief secretary and the IGP should ensure peaceful polls.
During the previous hearing, ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal said people were becoming eligible for vote with every passing day, adding that it would be impossible to hold elections if the MQM-P’s reservations on voter lists were accepted. The DG law of the electoral body also asked the ECP to reject the MQM-P’s petition.
