Crying foul: Court seeks comments on MQM’s petition

Party claims ECP officials not allowing independents to join them

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court issued notices on Monday to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others on a petition filed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against non-acceptance of party certificates it issued to elected independent local council members in Naushero Feroz district.

The division bench also issued notices to the provincial advocate-general to file comments at the next hearing.

Last week, the MQM had filed a petition stating that six independent candidates were declared returned candidates in the Bhirya Road Town Committee in Naushero Feroz. Later, they joined the MQM under the terms of Section 33 of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 but the returning officer and other ECP officials refused to accept the party tickets, which is against the law.



Representing MQM, advocate Aqil Zaidi alleged that the general councilors of the union council were being harassed and threatened to change their loyalties by the ruling party of Sindh.

He claimed in case the party ticket of one candidate is accepted [in favour of MQM], the balance of equation in the town committee with regards to party representation will change as MQM will be in a position to nominate the chairman and vice-chairman of the town committee.

The court was requested to direct the ECP to accept the party certificates issued by the MQM to all the candidates.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.