Karachi, Hyderabad get new poll date

Elections in both cities delayed multiple times because of floods

The government earlier requested the ECP to defer the second phase of polls in Karachi and Hyderabad due to a lack of police personnel in requisite numbers to perform security duties on polling day.

After a delay of over six months, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that the local government elections in two main cities of Karachi, and Hyderabad, will be held on January 15.

The municipal polls in Karachi and Hyderabad were originally scheduled for July 24, but were postponed multiple times, mainly due to heavy rains and floods earlier in the year. The repeated postponement of polls was denounced by the Opposition, which believed that the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been shying away from its obligation fearing defeat in the provincial capital.

The first phase of the local government elections in four administrative divisions of the province was held on June 26, 2022.

The ECP announced the new date for the second phase of the polls in its ruling on the applications filed by the concerned political parties against any further delay in the elections.

The government earlier requested the ECP to defer the second phase of polls in Karachi and Hyderabad mainly due to a lack of police personnel in requisite numbers to perform security duties on polling day.

Provincial authorities said the police personnel were busy with flood relief activities and performing security duties in Islamabad, due to the long march of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Inaf, so they weren’t available in sufficient numbers on polling day.

Onus on authorities

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi leader Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said the ECP should make sure that the Sindh government provides all the required resources including a police force to ensure local government elections go smoothly and without any further delay.

He reminded the provincial authorities that they were duty-bound as per the constitution and law to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls.

He said the municipal agencies of Karachi should also be empowered as per the Article 140-A of the Constitution, defining the concept of devolution of powers, to resolve civic issues on the ground.