Karachi LG polls postponed again due to 'logistical issues, weather conditions'

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed on Wednesday the local body elections in Karachi for a second time, citing "logistic problems" and "non-availability" of security personnel due to difficult "weather conditions".

In a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, the secretary ECP revealed that rains are "very likely" in the provincial capital between August 24 and 26 which are expected to impact the voting process.

Furthermore, IG Sindh and the provincial chief secretary have submitted in writing that the administration, police and other security officials will be busy in providing relief to the flood affectees. IG Sindh also stated that it would not be possible to call in police from other cities of Sindh for the same reason.

Moreover, Rangers and the Pakistan Army, which aid in ensuring peace in sensitive polling stations, are also engaged in relief efforts and therefore unavailable.

Read Flood relief operations continue across Pakistan: ISPR

The provincial government had earlier requested the election commission to postpone the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions’ elections due to the recent rains citing "logistic issues".

The ECP spokesperson said that the decision to postpone the elections has been made in lieu of the “worst-possible destruction and devastation” caused by the recent floods as well as the displacement of people that the conditions have triggered. The explanatory statement also mentioned recommendations made by the Sindh election commissioner and provincial administration in addition to the meteorological report.

It is pertinent to note that the electoral watchdog had already postponed the second phase of Sindh local government elections scheduled for August 28 in nine districts of Hyderabad due to rain-induced floods.

It should be noted that in July, all the arrangements for the LG elections had been completed, and the ballot papers and other electoral materials had also been delivered to the districts.

The second phase of Sindh local government (LG) polls has once before been postponed due to possible monsoon rains, pushing them to August 28 from July 24.

Floods take Sindh by storm

The Pakistan Meteorological Department last week had recorded 156 millimeter rain in Tharparkar's Chor area, 141 mm in Larkana's Mohenjo Daro, 134 mm in Naushehro Feroze, 130 mm in Hyderabad, 111 mm in Mirpurkhas.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto had called off his official visits to European capitals in the wake of worsening flood situation in parts of Sindh.

In a meeting at the DC office, Bilawal had directed the provincial government to ensure the disposal of rainwater from the main roads, streets, and houses. He directed his government to start rehabilitation work on damaged roads, drainage, and houses of the rain affectees.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealed to the nation to donate for supporting the relief and rehabilitation of the people and infrastructure in flood-hit areas where hundreds have been killed and thousands rendered homeless.

Read more K-P declares emergency in flood-hit areas

Earlier this week, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had said the province has received around 500% more rainfall than its monsoon average and the "situation is more critical than the floods of 2010-11".

CM Murad had said the average for the season has been between 150-200mm of rainfall across the province.

Addressing a press conference in Sukkur, the chief minister had stated that the “gravity of the situation could be realised from the fact that the PMD recorded 355 mm of rain on August 19 in Padidan town of the Naushero Feroz district, while Guddu Barrage was flooded”.

“We are facing a more critical situation as compared to the 2010-11 floods and another heavy spell of rain is coming tomorrow. However, we can deal with this catastrophic situation,” he said.