KARACHI: Amid pressure from its coalition partner at the Centre, the Pakistan People’s Party government in Sindh has once again asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone local elections citing the law and order situation in Karachi and Hyderabad. said to
In a letter to the ECP on Saturday, less than 24 hours before the polls, provincial officials cited inputs from intelligence agencies on terror threats and “reiterated the request that the local elections The second phase to the extent of Karachi Division and Hyderabad District should be postponed till the required security is available at the polling stations.
This is the second time in as many days that the Sindh government has requested to postpone the polls to appease the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), which has warned that if the delimitation of constituencies is done before the elections. She will leave the coalition government if her grievances are not addressed. .
The letter said the ECP, in its order dated January 13, “did not respond to the concerns of the provincial government regarding the non-availability of the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces” for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
It added that a meeting was held at the chief secretary’s office on Friday, which was attended by the ECP secretary as well as senior officers of law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies.
“In this meeting, the law enforcement and intelligence agencies apprised the participants of the deteriorating law and order situation as well as the threats posed to various political leaders and workers of political parties.”
It added that the meeting further confirmed the fear and apprehension of the government that in view of the current situation, there is a greater need for the presence of troops of the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces at the polling stations.
