ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) withdrew its two petitions against the Supreme Courts earlier observation regarding the delimitation of Karachi's constituencies whereas the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) review petition regarding the electoral delimitation of constituencies was admitted in the apex court on Monday, DawnNews reported.

A larger bench of the apex court headed by Justice Anwer Zaheer Jamali resumed the hearing over Karachi law and order situation at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry.

Barrister Dr Farogh A. Nasim, representing the MQM withdrew the party's petitions submitted in the court against the delimitation of Karachi's contituencies before a fresh census was conducted.

Giving his remarks Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany said that the court had already issued its decision over  delimitation matter in Karachi.

Advocate Nasim replied that the delimitation of Karachi's constituencies was not possible before a fresh census was conducted.

The bench adjourned the hearing over the case until tomorrow (Feb 26).

Earlier on Jan 22 CEC Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim had categorically stated that delimitation of constituencies in Karachi before general elections was not possible and pointed out that the absence of fresh census might make it impossible to implement the Supreme Court order in this regard.

The court had observed on November 26 that constituencies in Karachi should be delimited in a manner that they comprise “mixed population” to avoid political polarisation and issued notice to the secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan after an ECP official submitted that the process of delimitation of constituencies in the city could not be initiated.