ECP postpones LB elections in Karachi

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed the second phase of local bodies (LB) elections in Karachi Division on Wednesday a day after suspending the exercise in Hyderabad Division.

The postponement was announced in view of the reports of the Sindh Chief Secretary, IGP, Provincial Election Commissioner, and bad weather conditions, non-availability of law enforcement personnel, logistical problems, lack of public interest, and inconvenience of voters.

"The new dates for the LB elections will be announced when the weather conditions improve," the ECP said in a statement. The decision was taken in a meeting of the ECP which was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

The Members, Secretary, and other senior officers of the ECP attended the meeting. Sindh's Provincial Election Commissioner also participated through a video link. The ECP Secretary briefed the meeting about the second phase of LB elections in the province, particularly in Karachi Division.

The Secretary, while referring to the report of Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department, said that there is a forecast of heavy rains in Karachi until August 26 while there are also chances of rain on August 27 and 28 - the day LB polls were scheduled to take place.

He told the meeting that the Sindh Chief Secretary and IG Police have told in writing that all administrations, police and other security agencies are engaged in relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Sindh. Police force is also needed to maintain law and order during the relief operations.

The IG Police said in his report that about 50,000 personnel were deployed for the peaceful conduct of the LB elections in Karachi Division. Of which, 33,000 were present in Karachi and the remaining 16,000 were to be called from interior Sindh, which is not possible in the current flood situation.

Other law enforcement agencies, including the Rangers, who were also supposed to perform duties at the "highly sensitive" polling stations along with police and Pakistan Army personnel, are also now engaged in relief operations and their deployment for the LB elections would not be possible.

The provincial election commissioner also gave a briefing to the meeting and requested that the LB elections in Karachi Division be postponed for now because there would also be a lot of logistical issues, including the transportation of elections material and polling staff, especially women polling staff, to the polling stations.

He added that they would have to face serious problems in transporting 63,000 polling staff to 4,900 polling stations in Karachi Division.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2022.