LARKANA: The divisional commissioner, being the ex-officio chairman and chief election commissioner for the Larkana Arts Council’s polls, has directed the caretaker president of the council to restore six senior members to enable them to cast their votes.

He has also called for holding the election for new governing body for the year 2025-26 as the previous body’s tenure had ended on Dec 31, 2024.

A group of the council’s members on Thursday held a sit-in outside the local press club against keeping suspended the membership of the six senior members, who intended to contest the election, for two years. Those suspended are Abdul Sattar Khuhawar, Munawwar Rind, Panjal Sangi, Abdul Hadi Bugti, Aijaz Solangi and Altaf Siyal.

The agitators also demanded internal and external audit of the council’s accounts and raised question over the parking fee and utilisation of music school funds by the previous body.

They urged the Sindh culture minister to take notice of the senior members.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2025