ECP reserves verdict in Sindh LG elections case

The Election Commission of Pakistan has reserved verdict in a case pertaining to local government elections in Sindh, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A five-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case on Tuesday. 

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, MQM’s Waseem Akhtar, Karachi Administrator and PPP leader Murtaza Wahab and Sindh IG police appeared before the commission. 

The federal government has refused to provide Rangers for local government elections in Karachi. 

Interior Ministry’s Joint Secretary Muhammad Ramzan Malik told the bench that the federal government could not provide security due to floods and law and order situation in the country. 

The Sindh government also told the bench that it could not provide security. Murtaza Wahab requested the ECP to postpone the LG elections in the province for 90 days. 

ECP member Nisar Durrani remarked that postponement of LG polls was not violation of the constitution. 

The Sindh IG police and chief secretary also suggested to delay the local government polls in the province. 

CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja remarked that the commission made a direct contact with the interior ministry but the ministry was not ready to deploy the Army or Rangers officials for the LG polls duty. He, however, said the commission could directly order for their deployment under Article 220. He further remarked that the ECP wanted to hold LG elections immediately in Karachi. 

After this, the ECP reserved the verdict saying that the commission would give right decision about the local government elections. 

Reporter Usman Khan