Gearing up for LG polls: Zardari to arrive in Karachi on Saturday

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari will travel to Karachi on Saturday.

According to a party spokesperson, Zardari will consult with party leaders on the upcoming local government polls.

He is also expected to convene a meeting of party leaders. The meeting is expected to be attended by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari among a host of senior leaders.

Earlier on Friday, the Election Commission of Pakistan issued a notification delaying the first phase of local government elections in Sindh by 19 days.

The notification stated that the provincial government had requested to re-consider holding the first phase of elections on October 12 owing to floods in the province and with the date of the election coinciding with Muharram 10.

Earlier on Wednesday, the ECP had announced that the first phase of local government polls in 12 districts of Punjab and 13 districts of Sindh will be held on October 12. That announcement came after criticism by the Supreme Court of Pakistan over the commission’s failure to fulfill constitutional obligations.

Zardari had left the country in June as controversy flared following his remarks against army during a party event in Islamabad.

There were reports that the former president would not return, with Bilawal taking over day to day affairs of PPP. However, PPP leaders had rejected reports of Zardari's self-exile, insisting that the co-chairman will return to lead the party.