HYDERABAD, Dec 25: The central body and provincial chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association have declared announcement of elections by the association's Hyderabad chapter on Dec 30 as illegal and unconstitutional.

In a letter to the PMA members, secretary-general of the central body Dr Mirza Ali Azhar said that as per conventions of PMA, all branches conducted elections according to their constitutions but the Hyderabad chapter was not following its constitution with regard to elections.

He said that announcement about elections was not properly notified prior to elections, no voter list was issued and candidates invited to file nomination papers in clear violation of the constitution hence the elections would be unconstitutional, illegal and unethical.

On the other hand, the general-secretary of the PMA's provincial chapter, Dr Pir Manzoor Ali expressed disapproval of announcement of elections by the general body meeting of the life members of PMA Hyderabad held on March 13, which also proposed name of Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi as chairman of the election commission.

He said in a letter to Dr Jatoi that election schedule should have been announced a month before the date of elections and every member should have been given right to contest for offices and vote.

To hold elections just in 8 to 10 days without announcing polls schedule and updating voters' list is “illegal, unconstitutional, unethical and prejudicial. I reject this election and declare it as illegal and unconstitutional,” said Dr Ali.

But Dr Jatoi insisted the elections were being held strictly in accordance with the constitution. It was mentioned in the constitution that elections would be held on the last Friday of December which fell on 30th, he said.

A general body meeting of the association held several months ago had appointed a committee of seven members to hold elections.

He said the committee, of which he was head, had announced holding elections in accordance with the constitution of the association. Neither he nor any member of the committee was contesting elections and the allegations against him were baseless and frivolous, said Dr Jatoi.