ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed the second phase of local government elections in Sindh and by-polls on a national assembly seat — NA-245 — in Karachi till August owing to concerns related to weather and Muharram.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the commission under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad on Wednesday.

It was attended by the members and secretary of the ECP among other officials.

In a statement following the meeting, the election watchdog said the local government polls will be held on August 28 instead of July 24 whereas the election on the NA-245 seat will be held on August 21 instead of July 27 due to possible rainy weather and Muharram which is expected to start later this month.

Decision taken because of rainy weather, Muharram

Pakistan, especially Sindh, is experiencing more-than-expected rainfall during the current monsoon spell and the decision by the ECP came at the request of the public and relevant stakeholders.

Dawn.com quoted an ECP spokesperson saying that the decision was taken based on the report of Sindh’s chief secretary and provincial election commissioner, the public’s request, and data from the meteorological department. While the Met predicted rain on the election date, the regional election commissioner mentioned possible obstacles in the polling due to weather and related concerns.

According to the Met office, another spell of rain will lash the country in the coming days. Urban flooding is expected from July 24 to July 26 in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Umer Kot, Jaccobabad, Larkana and Sukkur, as per reports.

The second phase of LG polls in Sindh will be held in 16 districts of Karachi and Hyderabad division. In the first phase, polls were held in 14 districts of Sindh.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022