ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is still in a quandary over local government elections in Sindh and Punjab, awaiting a verdict from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court will take up the case on Jan 13.

An ECP official told Dawn that the outcome of the court’s judgment could create two different scenarios. He said in case of LG polls in Sindh, only the polling day would need to be advanced for a few days for printing of ballot papers if the Sindh High Court’s judgment was set aside in toto, but in case the judgment was upheld, then a fresh delimitation exercise would be required, which would consume around two months. He said that since the SHC judgment also scrapped some amendments to the law, including the one pertaining to introduction of panel system, the law would also need some amendments.

He said that if nomination forms were changed, a new schedule would have to be announced.

The Sindh government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, requesting it to set aside the SHC verdict on delimitation, claiming that the already carried out process of delimitation reflected the will of the entire provincial assembly.

The ECP official said the process of scrutiny of nomination papers was continuing and appeals were being disposed of.

He said both Punjab and Sindh wasted 10 to 20 days available to the Commission by delaying submission of prerequisites for announcement of the election schedule.

He said that both provinces had been asked to submit updated local government law, rules and notification of delimitation by Nov 28. Punjab made these available on Dec 8 while Sindh did it on Dec 17.

The ECP official said that in Punjab the Lahore High Court had not only scrapped the delimitation, but also ordered establishment of a neutral commission for the conduct of the exercise.