PTI, JI denounce ECP decision to defer local polls

Khurram Sher Zaman termed decision regarding the postponement of elections in Karachi 'surprising and dangerous news.'

KARACHI:

Parliamentary leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman termed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision regarding the postponement of second phase of local bodies (LB) elections in Karachi 'surprising and dangerous news.'

Talking to journalists at the media corner in Sindh Assembly on Wednesday he said first the ECP on Tuesday rejected the application filed by PPP and MQM-P for the postponement of local government (LG) elections.

The commission had announced that the LG polls would be held as per schedule in Karachi and the decision of election postponement in Hyderabad division would be taken after considering the weather situation.

Until Tuesday evening, the commission had announced to hold elections in Karachi on August 28, but suddenly the decision changed on Wednesday, Zaman said adding that there was no such situation in Karachi that elections cannot be held. Zaman said that with this decision, the ECP proved itself to be a 'B Team' of MQM-P and PPP. "We strongly condemn this decision of the ECP."

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rahman said that ECP violated constitutional, legal and democratic rights of more than 30 million citizens of Karachi by postponing the local bodies elections for an indefinite period at the behest of the PPP provincial government.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq on Wednesday against the postponement of local body elections. He termed the decision to postpone the election as 'very regrettable and shameful' and condemned it. Hafiz Naeem said that Jamaat-e-Islami will use its democratic right to resist the decision and will also approach the court.

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