ECP unaware of Sindh's move to put off Karachi, Hyderabad LG polls
Pakistan
ECP unaware of Sindh’s move to put off Karachi, Hyderabad LG polls
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is unaware of the major developments in the Sindh where the provincial government in late night move announced postponement of local body elections in Karachi division and Hyderabad district.
Sources said the top electoral body was not informed by the Sindh government about withdrawal of notification regarding delimitations. The ECP would contact the provincial government to discuss the matter today (Friday).
The move comes a couple of days before the much-awaited LG polls are scheduled to take place in the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions on Jan 15.
On Thursday night, Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon, in a medial talk, said the decision to revoke the delimitations in Karachi division and Hyderabad and Dadud was made in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. He said the decision had been taken due to Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan’s (MQM-P) reservations on delimitations and flood water.
However, polls in seven districts – Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Jamshoro – will be held as planned on Jan 15.
Meanwhile, a latter written by the provincial government to the provincial election commissioner dated Jan 12 had also surfaced. It states, “All notifications related to the delimitations of the councils of Karachi Division and Hyderabad District issued under Sections 10(1) & 16 of the SLGA- 2013 by the Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department shall stand cancelled and the LG&HTP Department may take necessary action accordingly. The Sub-Committee of the cabinet, earlier formed by the Provincial Cabinet, in its meeting dated 30th December- 2021 shall reconsider and approve fresh notifications under Section 10(1) of the SLGA- 2013 related to above mentioned areas.”
“The Provincial Cabinet resolved and reiterated that the Government of Sindh is committed to holding free. fair and transparent Local Government Elections. so that power is devolved to the local representatives at grass-root level,” it states, adding that the “Local Government Elections (2nd Phase) be held as per schedule except in the following areas. - Karachi Division and Hyderabad District”.
On the other hand, the PTI has decided to challenge the Sindh government’s move in the courts. In a statement, Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh said that the MQM-P and PPP are two sides of the same coin.
He said the decision to put off the elections showed how much the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was frightened of the imminent defeat in Karachi and Hyderabad. He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan had exposed the whole corrupt system.
The Jamat-e-Islami (JI) also opposed the provincial government’s decision and announced to protest against it.
