HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the holding of local government elections is the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan, however, he said that these polls could be conducted after the general elections, he maintained.

Other provinces  have still not introduced the local government system while deteriorating law and order in some of these provinces could also be hurdle in the holding local government elections before the general elections, the Chief Minister responded to a question during his news conference here on Saturday evening.

In Sindh, the efforts of the government helped in controlling the law and order situation as crime rate has significantly been reduced as compared to past regimes, he said and added that except the activities of some elements which do not want the strengthening of democracy, the over all situation remained under control in the province.

However, the chief minister maintained that the activities of these anti-government elements, involved in blasts on railway tracks, attacking the houses of the public representatives and challenging the writ of the government would not be tolerated now and will be dealt in accordance with the law.

The maintenance of law and order and protection to the live and properties of law abiding people are the responsibilities of the government and the present government is making all out efforts in this direction, he said.

The chief minister strongly criticized the anti-democratic attitude of some groups of so called nationalists while agitating the new Local Government System adding that the people of the province fully aware that these groups were the parts of dictatorial regime in the past and now trying to blackmail the democratic government under the cover of local government system.

In Sindh assembly session some 20 to 22 members of the opposition parties have demonstrated the anti-democratic attitude at the time of the passing bill of the new Local Government System, the chief minister said and added that whatever they demonstrated, was against the rules of the house.

The new local government system is catering the demands of the masses and 159 members of the house have passed the bill through democratic procedure and with majority, the chief minister said and added that the bill has been passed in accordance with the Article 140-A of the 18th Amendment of the constitution.