Ahead of LG polls: SHC dismisses MQM’s petition against delimitation
The bench observes that only two days are left for the local bodies' polls.
The bench observes that only two days are left for the local bodies' polls. PHOTO: ONLINE
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed on Wednesday the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) petition against the delimitation of local government (LG) constituencies in Karachi.
A division bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, observed that only two days were left for the local bodies' elections in the metropolis — the much-awaited polls being held after a decade to devolve powers to the grassroots.
Syed Sardar Ahmed, the MQM's parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, had challenged the revised lists of union councils issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In his plea, he had stated that the ECP had issued a final list of the LG constituencies on August 22 this year. Later, he added that the provincial election commissioner, who is the delimitation authority, issued a revised list in violation of schedule I of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, as the population criteria have been disturbed in the creation of union councils one to six in Akhtar Colony.
According to the final list, UC-2 had a population of 40,402 and UC-6 had a population of 40,085. In the revised list, UC-2 consists of 31,119 and UC-6 has 54,185 people.
Advocate Nishat Warsi alleged that the fresh delimitation and creation of new UCs was based on discrimination.
On Wednesday, the bench members heard arguments from the lawyers representing the petitioner, who challenged the revised list, and the provincial election commission, which opposed the petition.
The judges observed that the elections were being held in Karachi on December 5, thus it apparently will not be appropriate to pass any order against the delimitation of the UCs, which would affect the polls. Therefore, the bench dismissed the petition.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed on Wednesday the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) petition against the delimitation of local government (LG) constituencies in Karachi.
A division bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, observed that only two days were left for the local bodies' elections in the metropolis — the much-awaited polls being held after a decade to devolve powers to the grassroots.
Syed Sardar Ahmed, the MQM's parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, had challenged the revised lists of union councils issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In his plea, he had stated that the ECP had issued a final list of the LG constituencies on August 22 this year. Later, he added that the provincial election commissioner, who is the delimitation authority, issued a revised list in violation of schedule I of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, as the population criteria have been disturbed in the creation of union councils one to six in Akhtar Colony.
According to the final list, UC-2 had a population of 40,402 and UC-6 had a population of 40,085. In the revised list, UC-2 consists of 31,119 and UC-6 has 54,185 people.
Advocate Nishat Warsi alleged that the fresh delimitation and creation of new UCs was based on discrimination.
On Wednesday, the bench members heard arguments from the lawyers representing the petitioner, who challenged the revised list, and the provincial election commission, which opposed the petition.
The judges observed that the elections were being held in Karachi on December 5, thus it apparently will not be appropriate to pass any order against the delimitation of the UCs, which would affect the polls. Therefore, the bench dismissed the petition.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.