ISLAMABAD: Following constant delays, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced holding much-demanded local government elections in Sindh’s metropolis Karachi and Hyderabad on January 15.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the verdict, the commission had reserved after hearing petitions, on November 15. Following the verdict, the ECP directed the Sindh and federal governments to complete the security arrangements in this regard.
The tribunal also directed the Sindh government, chief secretary, chief of provincial police, and federal interior ministry to ensure security arrangements to hold free, fair and impartial elections.
The polls in Karachi were scheduled for July but postponed due to the floods. The Sindh government had repeatedly sought the rescheduling of dates for the elections.
The elections were initially scheduled for July 24, but they were delayed due to “bad weather and rains”. Then, polling was set to take place on August 28 and October 24, but the provincial government refused to provide security.
In its judgment on the petitions moved by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamat-i-Islami, the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the commission to announce a new schedule for the elections.
