KARACHI: A day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed the second phase of local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad, political parties, including those who were pleading for the same on different grounds, on Thursday came up with strong reactions against the decision calling it a favour to the ruling alliance in the Centre, who was seeking an “escape from an imminent defeat” in the crucial polls.

PTI stages protest at EC office

Leading the protest, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf staged a protest demonstration outside the regional ECP office in Saddar and sought an explanation by the constitutional body for its ‘change of heart’ just hours before the July 24 voting.

The PTI leaders dema­nded resignation of the ECP chief accusing him of partiality in all elections across the country these days.

A large number of party workers led by legislators and local leaders gathered outside the ECP building, chanted slogans and demanded review of its fresh decision.

PTI, JI, TLP stage demonstrations against Election Commission decision to delay local govt elections till Aug 28

Earlier, addressing a press conference at his office, Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh said that the “imported government” deliberately delayed the second phase of local government polls in Sindh because it knew that its component parties would be “badly defeated”.

“The imported government has seen what is written on the wall,” he said. “The ruling coalition has fled from the LB polls. These polls were got rescheduled only two days before the voting day. During the first phase of elections we went to court that legislation regarding these polls was not done as per Article 140 A of the constitution, but the polls were not postponed. Only two days ago Nasir Shah [Sindh minister] wrote to the Election Commission that preparations were made for holding the local bodies polls, but due to the fear of defeat, they have fled from the polls now.”

Jamaat condemns EC

The Jamaat-i-Islami also “condemned” the ECP decision and announced to stage a sit-in outside its building today [Friday] to lodge its protest.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq, JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said that the ECP had not only made a “bad decision”, but also put false allegations against his party.

“The ECP in its press release has claimed that Jamaat had also sought delay in the July 24 polls,” he said.

“It’s a blatant lie. We have only pleaded to reschedule the by-polls in NA-245 only to avoid burden and mismanagement on the Election Commission. We demand the Election Commission to tender an apology over misleading the people and twisting facts. The Jamaat e Islami would lead Karachiites tomorrow [Friday] to stage a sit-in against the Election Commission for its incompetence and lies.”

EC says JI sought rescheduling

The Election Commission of Pakistan said the Jamaat-i-Islami itself sought rescheduling of the second phase of polls in an application submitted to it on June 18.

An ECP spokesman said in a statement that JI Election Cell Chairman and Naib Ameer of party Raja Arif Sultan Minhas had moved an application in Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh on June 18, 2022 requesting the Commission to postpone LG polls (second phase) as well as NA 245 by-polls.

He said the ECP postponed the elections in NA 245 and LG polls after considering JIs application and some other factors.

PPP rejects criticism

The ruling PPP, which was facing serious criticism and accused of favouring the delay in the polls, came up with a clarification that it was not the Sindh government nor the ruling party which had suggested to postpone the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.

“The polling for the second phase of the local government elections as per the original schedule on July 24 would have been in the interest of the PPP,” said Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, who is also the PPP Karachi president, in a statement.

No provincial govt functionary had written to the ECP for deferring the local government polls, he said.

“Postponing the elections is purely ECP’s own decision. The opposition parties for their own political interests have started blaming the Sindh government and the PPP for the postponement of the municipal polls.”

PSP rejects ECP decision

In a statement, former Karachi mayor and chairman Pak-Sarzameen Party (PSP) Mustafa Kamal also rejected the ECP fresh move and demanded it to review the decision.

He said that Karachi and Hyderabad badly needed local bodies system to address daily life problems of the two cities through its elected representatives.

“The fresh decision sounds more as a plan of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which wants to occupy administrative control of Karachi and Hyderabad through different tactics,” he said.

“The first phase of local government elections in different parts of Sindh reflected how the PPP exploited its ruling position and won the majority despite losing popularity among the people of Sindh. The PPP knows that these tactics are hard to be implemented in major urban centres and that’s why it wants an escape from the elections from these cities.”

TLP rally from Numaish to ECP office

The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, which is contesting from all Karachi and Hyderabad districts, also sounded in agreement with the opposition parties. The party protesting against the fresh decision took out a rally from Numaish to ECP office in the evening which was attended by party workers and supporters.

In a statement it said that the ECP’s decision was “not acceptable at any cost” and it would take all due legal course to protest against the fresh move.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2022