Elections for Karachi’s Local Government (LG) are likely to be postponed for a seventh time after the Sindh government sent a new letter to the ECP.
The LG elections’ delimitation had already been changed in response to a letter from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The political party mentioned the petition submitted to the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the changes in the delimitation in the letter as well.
Additionally, the letter also included the Advocate General (AG) Sindh’s perspective on the modifications to the LG delimitation.
It is pertinent to mention here that the new phase of the Sindh LG polls are scheduled for January 15 in Karachi Division after its postponement six times.
Sources ssay that the delimitation will be changed in light of AG Sindh’s opinion and the court directions.
It emerged that the Sindh government sent the letter to the ECP following the advice of the MQM-P. The MQM-P leaders had opposed the organisation of LG polls on different occasions until changes are made to the delimitation.
In another development today, the ECP decided to review its decision regarding the organisation of LG elections in Islamabad in light of the high court’s verdict.
The election commission will listen to the stances of the political parties. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has also decided to present its opinion before the election commission.
In Islamabad, LG elections are scheduled for December 31.
In November, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had expressed its reservations over the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict to hold local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.
MQM-P had claimed that it was impossible to hold elections with unjust delimitation of constituencies and voter lists.
“Elections cannot be held without implementing the Supreme Court’s decision,” said sources while quoting MQM-P leaders.
