HYDERABAD: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended a notification of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for election of the chairman of the municipal committee (MC) of Matli, Badin district, in a petition filed by deposed chairman Abdul Rauf Nizamani.

The SHC’s Hyderabad circuit bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Adnan Iqbal, also suspended a notification of the Sindh local government department which notified Nizamani’s removal.

While adjourning hearing of the case to the third week of August, the SHC ordered Nizamani to continue performing the duty of the chairman.

The petitioner informed the court that on June 9, some 12 members of the committee got passed a no-confidence motion in an allegedly illegal way.

Following the vote, the deputy commissioner of Badin and local government department secretary also notified his removal and they handed over the acting charge to vice chairman Abdul Rehman Kashmiri.

Nizamani contended that he was removed from his position in violation of the law and Constitution.

Meanwhile, the ECP has issued the election schedule for July 18, which stands suspended after the SHC’s order.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2019