ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to prepare a strategy for the process of delimitation of constituencies in Karachi and present a report on the matter in three days' time, DawnNews reported.

A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was seized with the hearing of a case pertaining to the implementation of the apex court order in the suo motu case related to frequent targeted killings in Karachi. The other bench members are Justices Khilji Arif Hussain, Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Amir Hani Muslim and Athar Saeed.

During the hearing, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed presented the ECP’s recommendations pertaining to the process of delimitation of Karachi’s constituencies.

Ahmed said the ECP was working on the issue of delimitation of constituencies and that a strategy was being devised in cooperation from all stakeholders, including the provincial government and the political parties.

He said census was a prerequisite for delimitation which had not been completed.

Ahmed added that the work could be completed in two months' time and said the ECP would also consult with representatives from political parties in this regard.

In his remarks, Justice Jamali said that delimitation should be done in a manner that political polarisation be minimised.

Moreover, the bench ordered an immediate freeze on leasing land in Karachi and summoned the record of land transfers in the city.

The bench ordered an immediate freeze on land transfers in Karachi and summoned the details of land records torched in the aftermath of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

It moreover directed the authorities that no land should be allotted until the bench was provided with the records in question.

Director-General of Sindh Rangers Maj-General Rizwan Akhtar and Sindh Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari appeared before the bench.

DG Rangers Sindh briefed the bench and presented a report pertaining to suspected individuals arrested in Karachi since Nov 1 which the bench returned with objections.

The court directed police and Rangers officials to improve coordination in order to establish peace in the city.

The bench also directed the Sindh Rangers to open their own police station in the city.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned to Nov 30.