ECP cannot reject Sindh govt’s decision to delay LG polls: Memon

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot reject the decision of the provincial government, saying that the local body polls were postponed using the constitutional powers.

Following a late-night huddle of the Sindh cabinet, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led provincial government announced on Thursday the postponement of local body (LB) polls in Karachi and Hyderabad, and revoked the notification regarding new constituencies.

However, the ECP earlier today rejected the Sindh government’s decision to postpone the local body polls and started mulling taking strict action against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led provincial government.

Reacting to the ECP’s decision, Memon said that the local body polls scheduled for January 15 were postponed due to MQM-P's concerns over delimitations and added that the decision was taken under the constitutional powers.

The information minister said the ECP and the Sindh government had different powers under the law.

Memon said that the copy of the decision of the ECP has not been received so far, adding that election watchdog does not have the authority to reject or interfere in the provincial government’s decisions.

The minister said in view of the ‘threat alert’, large number of police personnel cannot be deployed for election security and the Federal Interior Ministry has already turned down request to provide army and Rangers troops for the polls.

He said legal experts are being consulted on promulgating an ordinance regarding the LG polls but no final decision has been taken yet.

Also read: ECP rejects Sindh govt's request to postpone Karachi, Hyderabad LG polls

He said the provincial government is mulling whether the local body elections can take place on January 15 or not.

It is pertinent to note that the second round of LG elections in 16 districts of Sindh was to be held on July 24, 2022.

However, the Sindh administration had excused itself from holding the polls over the lack of security and police presence because of the floods that wreaked havoc across the country, including Sindh.

Later, the LG elections were rescheduled for August 28 but the elections did not take place on that day too and a new date was again set as October 23. However, the polls were postponed on that date too.

Earlier this month, the ECP had ruled that the local government elections in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Thatta would be held on Jan 15 as per the schedule.