ISLAMABAD: The government of Sindh has again sought postponement of the second phase of local government polls, scheduled to be held in Karachi division on Oct 23, for three months.

In a letter sent to the provincial election commission on Wednesday, the Services and General Administration Department said the Sindh government could not provide adequate security required for holding free and fair polls.

The provincial government said it had already made the request in view of the recent floods due to which a large number of police force is busy with relief efforts and it is not possible to pull them out for election-related duties.

ECP to hear challenge to Kurram by-polls delay today

The inability to provide security for the LG elections was also reiterated by the Sindh chief secretary and IGP in a meeting with the Election Commission on Oct 11.

The Sindh government said, however, if the ECP does not postpone the elections, these polls may be held in two phases. Elections may be conducted in the first phase in three districts of Karachi while in the remaining four districts it may be held subsequently in the second phase, the statement added.

Kurram by-poll

Meanwhile, the ECP will take up for hearing on Thursday a plea against its decision to put off by-polls for the National Assembly seat from Kurram. Informed sources told Dawn that JUI-F candidate Jameel Ahmad, through his counsel Senator Kamran Murtaza, filed the petition with the ECP challenging its decision to postpone elections in NA-45 (Kurram) scheduled for Oct 16. The petitioner said that security situation in Kurram was not as bad as had been portrayed by some officials and insisted that polling should take place in accordance with the previously announced schedule.

A five-member bench of the commission headed by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja will hear the case.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2022