SC rejects Sindh govt plea on election of mayor, deputy mayor

Sindh govt had challenged SHC’s order to declare the amendment in local government law as void

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Sindh government's appeal challenging the Sindh High Court’s order to declare the amendment in the local government law as void, whereby secret balloting had been replaced with a show of hands for electing mayors, deputy mayors and other local government representatives in the province.

A three-member bench led by Justice Gulzar Ahmed announced its decision to maintain status quo on the election of mayor and deputy mayor across Sindh, including Karachi.



The hearing of the case has been adjourned till March 3.

The Sindh government on Tuesday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the SHC’s February 10 order, saying that the executive power under the constitution has been unduly impaired, restrained and restricted as a result of that judgment. The petition were drafted by Farooq H Naek advocate.

Earlier, MQM, PML-F and others had approached the SHC pleading to set aside the amendment made by Sindh government because it is in violation of Article 266 of the constitution which allows secret polling.



The Sindh government pleaded the SC to suspend the operation of high court immediately till final judgment on its petition.