KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to approach the provincial government asking it to declare July 27 a local holiday in the NA-245 constituency for the purpose of by-election.

Disposing of a petition filed by the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) seeking rescheduling of the polling day, a two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro said that the polling would be held as per schedule and also ordered to ensure peaceful atmosphere during the by-election.

The NA-245 fell vacant last month after the death of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, who was found dead at his Karachi residence on June 9.

The PSP, through its vice chairman Dr Arshad Vohra, moved the SHC seeking a directive for the ECP to hold the by-election in NA-245 (Karachi East-IV) on July 31 (Sunday) instead of July 27, which is a working day.

When the bench took up the matter for hearing, PSP counsel Sofia Saeed argued that the polling day might be rescheduled to Sunday (July 31) as July 27 was a working day and it would affect the voter turnout.

The lawyer argued that there were many incidents of violence during the recently held by-election in NA 240 (Korangi & Landhi) and the voter turnout was less than 10 per cent as polling was held on a working day (June 16).

ECP law officer Abdullah Hanjrah submitted that the second phase of the local government election would be held on Sunday (July 24) and then Muharram would begin on the next Sunday (July 31). He said that Nishtar Park was the hub of religious activities during Muharram and it came within the territorial limits of the NA-245 constituency.

He submitted that the next Sunday i.e. on Aug 7 would be 9th Muharram and after that Independence Day (Aug 14) will also fall on a Sunday. He said by then the mandatory constitutional provision to hold by-election within 60 days would also exceed.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022