KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan has asked the Sindh government and delimitation officers to complete the demarcation of rural and urban areas and delimitation of constituencies where the second phase of local government polls were postponed in accordance with court orders.

Election schedule was rescinded in 81 local bodies during the second phase of the local government polls in nine districts of Sindh in pursuance of the Sindh High Court order, dated Nov 17, under Section 10 of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013.

The cancellation order affected polling in six municipal committees, 20 town committees and 55 union councils. The SHC order was passed on petitions filed by different stakeholders challenging the reconstitution of local bodies constituencies.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the ECP directed the Sindh government to complete demarcation of urban and rural areas and issue necessary notification by Nov 26 in respect of affected councils in the light of orders dated Dec 26, 2013, Sept 18, 2015 and Nov 17, 2015 passed by the Sindh High Court and the order dated March 20, 2014 passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

“On the basis of demarcation, the delimitation officers of the concerned districts shall complete the delimitations within three days starting from Nov 27 to 29, 2015.

“Representation and objections against list of constituencies will be filed before the delimitation authorities for three days from Nov 29 to Dec 1, 2015.”

The notification also directed the delimitation authorities that the appeals be disposed of by Dec 3 and the delimitation officers incorporate the decisions and publish the same.

The provincial election commissioner, Sindh, would then send a report of compliance of the court order, said the notification issue by the ECP.

As the election schedule was rescinded in 81 local bodies during the second phase of the local government polls, the authorities in light of the ECP directive would ensure demarcation of urban and rural areas followed by delimitation of the constituencies where the polls were affected in nine districts of Sindh. The six municipal committees which were affected in the second phase of the local government polls are Tando Jam of Hyderbad district, Tando Allahyar of Tando Allahyar district, Shujabad of Mirpurkhas district, Mithi of Tahrparker district, Nawabshah of Shaheed Benazirabad district and Tando Adam of Sanghar district.

Similarly, the 20 town committees are: Husri town committee in Hyderabad district, San, Manjhand and Jamshoro in Jamshoro district, Talhar Part I, II, III and Kario Ganware Part-I and II in Badin district, Halani, Khanwhan, Mohabat Dero Jatoi, Dharo, Bhority and Mithani in district Naushahro Feroze, Naukot Ward-12, Kot Ghulam Mohammad Ward-7 and -8 of Mirpurkhas district, Daur in Shaheed Benazirabad district and Jam Nawaz Ali and Jhol in Sanghar district.

Besides, the 55 union councils where rural and urban areas would be demarcated for fresh delimitations are:

In Hyderabad district UC-14 Panhwar and UC-5 Haji Sarwan Khan Gopang, in Tando Allahyar District UC-13 Shah Inayat Rizvi, UC-14 Dhingano Bozdar, UC-17 Pak Sanghar, in Jamshoro district UC-13 Lakha, UC-14 Shah Awais, UC-27 Morho Jabal, UC-20 Railo, in Badin district UC Saeedpur Part-I and II, UC Pir Ali Bahadur Shah UC Kario Ghanwar.

In Badin district, UCs were proposed in Halani, Khanwah, Mohabat Dero, Dabhro, Bhority, Mithani, Part UC Manjhan, part UC Bago Dero, UC Detha, Part UC Detha, Part UC Dehatt, Part UC Mad Ibyani, UC Kotri Kabir, UC Behlani, Part UC Mohlan, UC Machur Part of Deh Mohlan, Part UC Ladho Rano, UC Mad Aleem, in district Mirpurkha UC Mir Muhammad, UC Mirpur Old, UC Pir Azeem Shah, UC Turk Ali Mari, UC Syed Wadak Shah, UC Khumbri, UC Makhan Sammon, UC Dolatpur, UC Jhulori-I, II and UC Mirwah, UC Dher Mitho, UC Phuladyion, UC Bakhar, UC Roshanabad, UC Malan Hore, UC-20 Bahadur, UC-21 Sobhiar, UC-22 Jhirmiro, UC-27 Gurrabah, UC 29 Bhitaro, UC KLhairsha Part I and II, UC Hurbari and UC Gujro (proposed).

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015