ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday rejected Sindh government’s decision to delay in Local Government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad, and decided to hold the same on January 15, as was previously scheduled.
The Sindh government in a late night move had decided not to hold local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad following a fiery presser by their ally, the newly re-unified MQM, which wanted to delay polls till the matter of Union Councils was settled.
To give weight to its decision of not holding LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad as per MQM’s demands, the Sindh government late last night had issued notification, cancelling all previous notifications regarding delimitations of Union Councils (UCs) in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.
Also read: Despite orders by court & ECP, Sindh delays LG elections in Karachi, Hyderabad
The ECP on Friday morning went into emergency session to discuss various options following Sindh government’s decision. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja presided over the meeting which was attended by DG law, DG local government ECP and other officials.
Media reports quoted sources as saying that members of ECP were irked to know that the move by Sindh government was actually aimed at blaming the electoral watchdog for delay in LG polls even after the fact that all arrangements were completed by the electoral body. The ECP also reportedly considered legal and constitutional repercussions of Sindh government’s decision.
After much deliberations, the ECP announced rejecting Sindh government’s decision of delay in LG polls and announced that it would go ahead as per schedule to hold the same on January 15.
The ECP ordered Interior Ministry to ensure deployment of Army/ Rangers personnel at ‘very sensitive’ polling stations in Karachi and Hyderabad.
