LB polls: SC demands written responses from provinces

AG Sindh given a date for November 27, while AG Punjab offered December 14 as the deadline of LB polls.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Advocate Generals of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to submit a written statement about holding local bodies election in the respective provinces.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khwaja and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed resumed the hearing on Local Body (LB) polls on Monday and directed the Additional Attorney General of Pakistan to produce a copy of the notification regarding local polls in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The court accepted the plea of Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Munir A Malik for more time to complete the consultative process with all the political parties for holding the local bodies elections in the cantonment boards.

The AGP said that a ten-member committee has been constituted for the process and that a proposal will be finalised during the first week of October. Following that, a bill would be tabled in the House for approval.

Punjab's LB polls slated for December

Advocate General Punjab Mustafa Ramady told the court that the Punjab government had told the Election Commission of Pakistan that the provincial government will hold the local bodies polls on December 14.

He was asked to file a written statement by the next hearing.

Sindh's LB polls hinge on law and order situation

Additional Advocate General Sindh in his reply said that the provincial government was ready to hold local bodies election but law and order situation may prove to be a hindrance.

The bench retorted by saying that an earlier a statement from the counsel had mentioned a date for November 27 and stated that there was no further room for excuses.

The bench asked the provincial government to hold the LB polls on the earlier given date.

K-P yet to legislate for LB polls

The two-member bench turned down a request of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to grant 45 days for legislation to hold LB polls and directed the Advocate General to submit a written statement.

Balochistan yet to finalise LB poll date

The Balochistan government was also directed to submit a written statement.

The Advocate General Balochistan said that due to the incomplete composition of the Cabinet in the province, he was not ready to provide a final date for the elections.

The hearing will now resume on Tuesday.