KARACHI: The Sindh High Court was informed on Wednesday that the provincial government had held in abeyance transfer and postings of around 72 officials made in purported violation of the ban imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan ahead of the second phase of local government polls scheduled to be held on Jan 15 in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.

Among those whose notifications have been held in abeyance are recently appointed administrators of Karachi’s East and Korangi District Municipal Corporations and Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, who are said to be backed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.

Advocate General Hasan Akbar furnished this information before a two-judge bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and comprising Justice Kausar Sultana Hussain, which was hearing petitions filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf challenging transfers and postings of government officers in different departments by the Sindh government despite announcement of election schedule.

At the outset, the AG on behalf of additional chief secretary-local government filed a concise statement dated Jan 3 stating that in pursuance of the letters dated Dec 14 and 29 issued by the Provincial Election Commission “transfers/postings made by this department after Notification dated 25th November- 2022 Election Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad wherein Poll Day for the Local Government Elections- 2022 (2nd Phase) was announced, have been held in abeyance”.

Bench asks ECP to verify notifications and file report by next week

The statement said that other notifications issued by the chief secretary in October-November for transfer of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers from Karachi’s West, South, East, Keamari and Malir districts, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Dadu, Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Sujawal and Matriari had also been held in the abeyance.

The bench expressed their displeasure with the AG submitted that some transfers had been made ‘out of which some had been withdrawn by the provincial government’.

The bench asked the law officers for the provincial election commission to submit a report after verifying whether such transfers were made before or after the ban imposed by the ECP.

The bench fixed the matter on Jan 9.

Later, talking to the newsmen Sindh president of the PTI Ali Zaidi said on the ECP had fixed Jan 15 as the date of local government on his party’s demand.

“But, after it [ECP] issued the poll schedule, some half-yafta people were appointed administrators in Korangi and other districts,” he said in a thinly veiled reference to the appointment of MQM-backed officers as administrators of DMC-East and Korangi and HMC.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2023