Court petition: Sindh govt to challenge delimitation ruling
Sindh advocate general Khalid Jawed Khan says the government will request the apex court to overturn SHC's verdict.
Sindh advocate general Khalid Jawed Khan says the government will request the apex court to overturn SHC's verdict. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI:
The provincial government will challenge the Sindh High Court's (SHC) decision declaring the Sindh Local Government Act and delimitation of union councils as unconstitutional in the Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday.
"In a petition, the government will request the apex court to overturn SHC's verdict so that the local government (LG) elections can be held without further delays," said Sindh advocate general Khalid Jawed Khan. "The SHC has cited a difference of 40,000 in population between union councils as the main reason for the verdict and has suggested that LG elections be held on the basis of the delimitation carried out during General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's tenure," he explained. "However, there was a population gap of 50,000 between the union councils at that time in 2001."
Khan added that they would submit the application in Karachi but the case will most likely be heard in Islamabad. "No fundamental right of the candidates has been violated due to the forming of a panel," he said. "Rather, it has strengthened the process."
When asked about government's intent to have the elections postponed, the advocate general said that the government will not appeal to the SC for a delay but the election commission can do so if they wish.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2014.
The provincial government will challenge the Sindh High Court's (SHC) decision declaring the Sindh Local Government Act and delimitation of union councils as unconstitutional in the Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday.
"In a petition, the government will request the apex court to overturn SHC's verdict so that the local government (LG) elections can be held without further delays," said Sindh advocate general Khalid Jawed Khan. "The SHC has cited a difference of 40,000 in population between union councils as the main reason for the verdict and has suggested that LG elections be held on the basis of the delimitation carried out during General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's tenure," he explained. "However, there was a population gap of 50,000 between the union councils at that time in 2001."
Khan added that they would submit the application in Karachi but the case will most likely be heard in Islamabad. "No fundamental right of the candidates has been violated due to the forming of a panel," he said. "Rather, it has strengthened the process."
When asked about government's intent to have the elections postponed, the advocate general said that the government will not appeal to the SC for a delay but the election commission can do so if they wish.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2014.