‘ECP cannot reject LG polls delay decision’

Sharjeel Memon inaugurates country’s first electric bus service

KARACHI:

While the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that the second phase of local bodies' elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions will be held as per schedule on January 15, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said ECP cannot interfere with the authority of the Sindh government.

"The Sindh government has the power to send out a notification to stop the election. And only the Sindh government has the authority to revoke its notification," he said talking to the media at the launch of an electric bus service in Karachi on Friday.

Sharjeel said, "We respect ECP and all other constitutional institutions. However, some authority belongs to the elected governments, some to constitutional institutions, and some to courts."

He further said that in response to a request from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan, "the Sindh cabinet has revoked the Article 10 of the Local Government Act using its legal and constitutional authority."

Sharjeel further said that he had not received the written decision of the Election Commission Pakistan, about which he heard through the media.

As for the security of sensitive polling stations, Sharjeel said the Centre excused from deploying Army jawans who were busy conducting operations against terrorists.

Regarding the late night Sindh cabinet meeting he said that law and order and wheat were also covered in the agenda. IG Sindh briefed the cabinet that there are terror threat alerts in Sindh.

After terrorist attacks in K-P and Balochistan, the Sindh province could also become target, IG Sindh said. In order to conduct local bodies' elections, 62,000 policemen are required, the IG Sindh reportedly stated. If police officers are switched from Mosques, Imam Bargah, and other locations and deployed at voting booths, who will be held accountable if an unfortunate incident occurs?

According to Sharjeel Inam Memon, a letter was sent to the Election Commission regarding flooding and rain in two tehsils in the Dadu district, Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah, but no response has yet been received.

EV bus launched

Pakistan's first fleet of solar-powered electric buses rolled out on the port city's roads in inaugural run on Friday.

Sharjeel along with Sindh LG Minister Nasir Hussain Shah and Labor Minister Saeed Ghani reviewed the facilities in the EV People's Bus Service and also traveled in the bus.

Sharjeel Inam Memon while talking to the media said that Pakistan's first electric bus service cover 240km in a single charge.

The pollution free bus service will run from Tank Chowk Jinnah Avenue to Airport, Shahrae Faisal, FTC Building, Korangi Road, and via Khayaban-i Ittihad to Clock Tower at Sea View.

He said that passengers traveling to airport instead of paying Rs1,500 to taxi or ride hailing service can now travel the same distance for just Rs50.

He said that the Sindh government is grateful for the cooperation of the Civil Aviation Authority, which allowed the bus service to enter the airport premises.

The 32-seater spacious electric bus also has a capacity of 80 passengers to travel standing up.

For disabled persons these buses have a slide which can carry up to 350kgs for wheelchair users. The bus can also be raised with the help of a button when negotiating bumpy roads of the city.

The EV Bus drivers have been trained to operate these modern vehicles that have microphone and speaker, for drivers to communicate with passengers, besides cameras to monitor the travellers.

A fire extinguisher and a first aid kit are also part of the bus. People will be able to charge mobile phones and also enjoy free Wi-Fi on the EV Buses which will provide comfortable and pollution-free journey to citizens for only Rs50.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.