ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the provincial governments of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to file within 15 days their replies regarding the preparations of local body elections.

The orders were issued by a three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, while hearing a case pertaining to legislation for local body polls.

The chief justice inquired about the deadline given to the provinces for legislation on LB polls and fresh delimitation.

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The court issued notices to attorney generals of Punjab, Sindh and KP to inquire about the steps taken to conduct by-polls in these three provinces and file respective replies of provincial governments within 15 days.

In a ruling earlier this year, the apex court had told the provinces to hold local polls by Nov 15, but all three provinces except Balochistan have so far defied the court's directions.

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