LG elections: JI points out discrepancies in delimitation process

KARACHI:

Expressing reservations over the delimitation of union councils (UCs) and union committees in Sindh, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has pointed out massive discrepancies in the process.

"The Pakistan Peoples Party government is striving to convert its opponents into minorities in various districts of the province," said an application submitted by a JI delegation, headed by party leader Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, at the office of the provincial election commission on Tuesday. The delegation pointed out discrepancies in various UCs in Sanghar district.

"Some rural areas have been incorporated in urban areas," claimed Mujahid Channa, the JI's provincial information secretary. Referring to the Local Government Act, he said that no official had the power to shift the wards from one UC to another and the officials of the commission had to demarcate the limits of UCs within their boundaries. However, he added, this was not being practiced.

Channa claimed that the JI had always won three UCs in Tando Adam, while the town committee chairpersonship had also gone to the party in the last two local government elections. "But officials have now started tampering with the constituencies in order to convert JI and other political opponents into minorities," he alleged. "The provincial election commissioner has assured us of resolving the issue, otherwise we will challenge it in court."

The delimitation process has nearly been completed in Sindh. The commission was supposed to display the preliminary list of UCs on June 1 but the deadline has now been extended to June 10. After hearing the objections and disposing of the appeals, the final notification of the delimitation of UCs or union committees will be issued on July 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2015.