KARACHI: The Sindh government Thursday refused to provide security personnel for the October 23 local body polls in Karachi, a private TV channel reported on Thursday.
In a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the provincial government, excused itself from providing security resourcing, saying that a large number of the security personnel were engaged in the flood relief work, the report added.
“We are unable to provide the required security resources for the October 23 elections as a large number of police officials are busy helping the flood victims,” said the Sindh government
The provincial government, however, agreed to provide security if the local body polls are held in two phases in the metropolis.
On October 4, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) turned down the Sindh government’s plea to differ the local body elections in the port city for three months.
Despite the refusal, the provincial government has again written a letter to ECP seeking a delay in polls for the next three months in the metropolis city.
“If the situation returns to normal in three months, security resources will be available for the local body election,” the provincial government added.
A day earlier, Sindh Labour and Human Resources Minister Saeed Ghani suggested that the local government elections be held in Karachi in two phases, given the limited resources available at the disposal of the provincial government to ensure holding the polls in a smooth and peaceful manner.
Addressing a news conference at the provincial assembly, Ghani maintained that the final decision in this regard rests with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
However, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman opposed the suggestion to hold phase-wise local government elections in the city, and demanded that the ECP ensure free and fair elections across the metropolis on October 23.
