SC upholds SHC verdict to hold mayor, deputy mayor elections through secret ballot
SC announced the decision on the Sindh govt's appeal against the Sindh High Court's order.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Upholding the Sindh High Court (SHC) verdict, the Supreme Court on Friday directed to hold elections of mayors, deputy mayors and chairmen in the Sindh local government system through secret ballot within 60 days, Dunya News reported.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali announced the decision on the Sindh government’s appeal..
In its judgment on February 10, the Sindh High Court, while deciding applications of the MQM and PML-F, had declared as void the recent amendments to the local government law whereby secret balloting was replaced with show of hands for the election of local government representatives in the province.
The petitioners had approached the SHC pleading to set aside the amendment made by Sindh government because it was in violation of Article 266 of the constitution which allows secret polling.
On February 17, the Sindh government filed an appeal against the SHC verdict in the apex court. Later, the Supreme Court stayed the elections till a final decision on the matter.
In its verdict today, the Supreme Court declared the move to hold elections through show of hand as ‘illegal and nullified the transfers after issuance of Singh government’s election schedule.
The court ordered to restore 18-A notification regarding party-based elections on reserved seats within two weeks. If the authorities failed to restore this notification, elections will be held as per current procedure, it added.
The bench further asserted that the provincial government has the right to amend the law pertaining to local government elections but amendment after issuance of election schedule is illegal.
The apex court ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure completion of the election process of local government in Sindh within 60 days.
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