ECP reserves verdict on plea for local bodies elections in Karachi

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 05 Jan 2023

KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved the verdict on the plea pertaining to the local bodies elections in Sindh.

During the hearing, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja remarked that the ECP had tried its best to conduct the elections immediately, but the law enforcement agencies flatly refused. " Why not depute security personnel from Punjab to Sindh for local elections in Karachi? he added.

He remarked that the commission will decide on the matter soon. "The provincial government cannot do legislation for the postponement of the local bodies elections. It is prerogative of the Election Commission of Pakistan," he observed.

The CEC remarked that the commission could directly pass the order under Article 220, but the order should be implementable.

ECP Member Nisar Durrani said that it was not violation of the constitution to postpone the local bodies elections.

Earlier, the Sindh IGP, the Karachi administrator and the Interior Ministry had once again refused to provide security during the local bodies elections in Karachi.

The PTI, the PPP and the MQM supported the postponement of the local bodies elections for 90 days, while the Jamaat-e-Islami opposed the postponement. Karachi JI ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman recommended that the local bodies elections should be held by calling the Army, FC or police from other provinces.