ECP arguments sought on new constituencies

Muttahida says delimitation by PPP govt divides party’s vote bank in its strongholds

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday instructed the Election Commission of Pakistan Sindh office and others to come prepared with arguments on the six petitions of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) against the delimitation of local government constituencies in various districts of the metropolis.

A two-member bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh heard the six petitions of MQM-P against the delimitations conducted under the Pakistan Peoples Party led Sindh government.

The Additional Advocate General urged the bench to throw the petition out of the court.

“Petitions like these were rejected in past and the Supreme Court too has a precedence of rejecting such appeals,” the counsel for the Sindh government said.

On this, Sindh chief justice told the AAG to give his answer in writing.

The counsel of election commission sensing the tense atmosphere of the courtroom took to the sideline stating, “we are not party in some the petitions.”

The top judge of Sindh issued order to make election commission a party in all petitions of MQM-P regarding delimitation.

The SHC instructed the election commission and others to come prepared for arguments and adjourned the hearing till December 13.

In the petition, MQM-P has stated that formation of the Union Councils (UC) and towns in the west district areas including Orangi Town, Momin Abad and Baldia Town of was based on mala fide intention of the PPP government to divide the vote bank of Muttahida.

Moreover, delimitation in the North Nazimabad and Shah Faisal Colony was wrong splitting neighbourhoods of MQM-P strongholds in a manner that they lose their majority for the benefit of PPP and other political forces.

“Even the appellate authority did not listen to our position, it is an unfair process. Without right delimitation, election will not be transparent. Local government elections in the province are about to start, so decision on these petition should come early,” MQM-P stated.

Shazia Marri fake degree case

The two-member bench headed by Sindh Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh, heard the petition of Atta Muhammad Chandio regarding the alleged fake degree of Peoples Party MNA Shazia Marri.

Shazia Marri’s lawyer stated that the allegations are false. The application should be rejected. The Election Tribunal has rejected the application against Shazia Marri. The lawyer also presented the decision of the Election Tribunal.

The court adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period while directing to provide a copy of the judgment to the petitioner.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2022.