ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday decided to hold local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad on January 15 as per schedule, rejecting the request of the Sindh government to postpone the elections.
This decision was taken in a high-level meeting held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The ECP reviewed the situation after the provincial government’s announcement.
The People’s Party government in Sindh, in a surprise move late at night, postponed local elections due to concerns of its coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) over the existing constituencies.
This was the fourth time that the elections were delayed by the Sindh government.
The second round of local body elections was scheduled to be held on July 24 last year, but the Sindh government canceled the polls citing security and police absence due to floods. Elections were then scheduled to be held on August 28 and October 23, but that too was delayed.
After this announcement, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announced that the Jamaat will stage a sit-in outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Karachi today. However, Jamaat-e-Islami has now ended its protest.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi President Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced in a press conference that a dharna will be held outside the Election Commission Sindh office at 3 pm today.
The JI leader had alleged that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government was depriving the people of their constitutional right. He claimed that the elections have been postponed due to the fear of people’s mandate.
Hafiz Naeem had also said that there is no legal provision for the Sindh government to postpone elections ‘on the basis of letter’. He also urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja to take “su motu” notice.
Rehman questioned how it was possible that the elections were postponed by a notification two days before the elections. He also felt that the ECP should not delay the elections.
The JI leader said that the Election Commission should return the letter to the Sindh government, take notice and take action against them.
PTI’s protest outside the Sindh Assembly
After the press conference of JI, PTI leader Ali Zaidi also announced in a separate media talk that the party will hold a protest rally outside the Sindh Assembly at 4 pm today.
“Citizens of Karachi should reach there and register their protest,” Zaidi stressed at a hastily called press conference, which he held alongside former governor Imran Ismail.
Zaidi said that a “circus” was organized between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and the People’s Party at the Chief Minister’s House.
It is not clear whether the PTI will go ahead with its protest after the ECP’s decision.
Election Commission can reject Sindh government’s notification
On the other hand, former ECP Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said this morning that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja can reject the decision of the Sindh government to delay the local elections.
“There is no question of the government withdrawing the delimitation. The CEC can reject the Sindh government’s notification under Rules 218-219 and 237,” Dilshad told JEE News on Friday morning.
However, Dilshad said that if the Sindh government brings any ordinance, the ECP will be helpless and will have no option but to withdraw its election schedule.
The second round of local body elections was scheduled to be held on July 24 last year, but the Sindh government canceled the polls due to lack of security and police due to floods.
