The local body elections in Hyderabad and Karachi will take place as scheduled on January 15 after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected a request from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
The decision was made at the same time that the electoral body issued its reserve judgement regarding the MQM-P’s argument that local elections should be held using the revised voter lists. The MQM-P had contested the ECP’s decision to potentially utilise two different electoral rolls in the local government elections at the same time.
The MQM’s petition was denied on Monday by a three-member bench led by CEC Raja, who also announced that elections in Hyderabad, Karachi, and Thatta will be held following schedule and using the previous voter list.
Adding that the chief secretary and law enforcement agencies should also make sure the elections were held on time, he gave the Sindh government the order to finish making preparations for the elections.
The ECP eventually stated on Nov. 22 that the second round of local body elections in Hyderabad and Karachi will take place on Jan. 15 after numerous delays.
The MQM-P attorney was informed by the chief election commissioner during the last hearing that despite his attendance at numerous forums, the subject of electoral rolls had never been brought up. He instructed the attorney to bring up any more issues so they may be combined.
The CEC rejected the lawyer’s assertion, adding that he was making a mistake over the two electoral records.
The election monitor announced the decision it had reserved on November 15 and requested the Sindh government, the chief secretary, and the provincial police chief to provide an adequate number of security people for election duty at the polling places, offices of the district returning officers, returning officers, polling workers, and transportation of polling material from and to the offices of the ROs.
