ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has once again postponed local bodies elections, scheduled for October 23 in Karachi.
Interestingly, the decision came within hours of the ECP decision in which it ordered Punjab government to hold local bodies polls within seven days or face contempt action, and just two days after the city witnessed by-elections on two NA seats.
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According to details gathered by MM News, the decision to postpone local bodies elections in Karachi was taken in a meeting presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner. The decision by the ECP came after three repeated requests by Sindh government to postpone elections, citing flood related relief activities.
The ECP had asked the federal interior ministry to let it know by today if it could make up for the shortfall of 16,000 personnel for election duty. Reportedly, in the light of the response given by Islamabad, the ECP decided to postpone local bodies polls in Karachi. However, an ECP meeting to review the situation has also been decided to take place after 15 days.
The spokesperson of the ECP, meanwhile, took to Twitter, saying that the 2nd phase of LG Elections in Sindh was postponed in best interest of public to ensure their safety & security. He claimed that elections required static deployment of law enforcement personnel, which was refused by the Interior Ministry, and that all 5000 polling stations there had been declared sensitive.
The 2nd phase of LG Elections in Sindh has been postponed.The decision was taken in best intrest of public to ensure their safety & security. The elections required static deployment of law enforcement personnel’s which was refused by Interior.all 5000 P.S declared sensitive.
— Spokesperson ECP (@SpokespersonECP) October 18, 2022
