Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday ruled that the local bodies elections in Karachi and Hyderabad will be held as per schedule on January 15.
A 3-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the earlier reserved verdict on the petition filed by the MQM challenging the decision of the electoral body for the prospective use of two separate electoral rolls in the upcoming elections simultaneously.
The ECP rejected the plea, directing the Sindh government to complete arrangements for the elections, adding that the chief secretary and the law-enforcement agencies should also ensure that the elections were held as per the schedule and on the previous voter list.
The ECP had scheduled the second phase of local government polls in Sindh on July 24, 2022, but then it postponed them because of torrential rains and subsequent floods in the province.
The electoral body rescheduled the LG elections for August 28, but they were put off again for the same reason.
On October 18, the ECP rescheduled the elections for October 23, but the provincial government sought their postponement for three months.
Later, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami moved the Sindh High Court, which on November 15 instructed the ECP to announce the date for the LG elections within 15 days.
On November 22, the ECP announced January 15 as the new date.