KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has criticised the Election Commission’s decision to postpone the local government elections in a large number of union councils of the province, terming the move ‘rigging’ against the ruling PPP as it had won most of the seats in the first phase of the polls.

The ECP announcement followed the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the SHC verdict to suspend the recently carried out delimitation of wards in the province.

At a hurriedly called press conference at the CM House hours after the ECP decision on Wednesday, an angry chief minister said the logic behind suspension of polls one day before the voting was beyond anyone’s understanding.

Also read: PPP against postponement of LG polls in Badin

He termed the apex court’s verdict “unfortunate”, but said he actually had reservations against the ECP which enjoyed full authority and was responsible for holding free, fair and timely elections under Article 140-A of the Constitution.

“We are not going to boycott the polls, but we have every constitutional, legal and democratic right to protest the decision.

This is rigging against the PPP which won majority seats in the first phase of the elections. They want to change that trend but no one can do that. It’s a verdict of people,” said Mr Shah.

He was accompanied by key members of his cabinet and party, including Information Minister Nisar Khuhro.

Mr Khuhro blamed the ECP for what he called “irregularities” and said the commission had set up polling stations in 22 private buildings in areas where the elections were to be held on Thursday. “Is anyone there to explain what’s the logic behind postponing the elections just a day before the voting,” he asked.

“After monitoring and looking after the process from day one, the ECP says that elections are not going to be held as per schedule. It’s against people’s right and spirit of democracy,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2015