ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has once again rejected the Sindh government’s request for postponing the local government elections over security threats to political leaders. The ECP second phase of LB polls in Sindh including in Karachi and Hyderabad will be held tomorrow.
According to an official handout issued by ECP spokesman, the ECP directed the Sindh government to ensure foolproof arrangements for peaceful elections.
Earlier in the morning, the Sindh government once again requested the ECP to delay the scheduled elections in Karachi and Hyderabad over “threats to various political leaders and workers of political parties” as warned by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The local government department in a letter to the provincial election commissioner had said a meeting was held at the chief secretary’s office on Friday wherein “the law enforcement and intelligence agencies apprised the participants of the precarious law and order situation along with specific threats to various political leaders and workers of political parties”.
It also said that the Sindh cabinet had also expressed its concern with the non-availability of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces for static deployment at polling stations.
The letter said the meeting “corroborated the fear and apprehension of the government in view of the prevalent situation, there is a greater need for the presence of troops of Pakistan Army and civil armed forces to be statically deployed at the polling stations”.
The provincial government told the ECP it had already written to the Ministry of Interior about the provision of required security.
“In light of the above, the Government of Sindh reiterates the request that the second phase of local government elections to the extent of Karachi division & Hyderabad district be postponed till such time that the required security is available at the polling stations,” the letter to the ECP reads.
