KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has reserved its decision on the petitions related to the delay in local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Ahmad Ali Shaikh heard the petitions of Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI regarding holding local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.
IG Sindh said that we are coordinating. The Chief Justice remarked that there is no communication, you have to hold elections.
The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court asked the Election Commissioner that when will the election be held? You should do it in phases, Hyderabad in the first phase and Karachi in the second. Elections will have to be held. We give orders to the IG to provide security. In how many days are you conducting the election in Karachi Division? These are the orders of the Supreme Court.
The Chief Election Commissioner of Sindh replied that yes, we are ready to conduct the election. The court remarked that why they are insulting the court by violating the orders of the Supreme Court, if the elections cannot be held simultaneously, they should be held in phases.
The Chief Justice told the Provincial Election Commission that you are violating the law yourself, aren’t the police giving you an escort?
As much force as you want will be provided, IG Sindh
Election Commissioner Sindh said that we are ready to conduct elections, police and interior minister should provide security. The Chief Justice inquired that in how many days will the election be held in Karachi Division? Election Commissioner Sindh Ejaz Chauhan said that the elections will be held in the next 15 days.
IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon said that as much force as required will be provided.
If the Election Commission does it tomorrow, we are ready for that too, Sindh government
Advocate General Sindh said that conducting elections is the job of the Election Commission and not the provincial government. We have conducted the first phase election and are still ready to conduct it. If the Election Commission does it tomorrow, we are ready for that too, but we have told the facts on the ground, the police and Rangers are unable to provide security.
MQM lawyer Tariq Mansoor advocate stated that we should also be heard. The Chief Justice asked the lawyer of MQM whether you want elections or not. Do you want an election? Tariq Mansoor advocate stated that you should see this application.
The Chief Justice remarked, “We don’t want this child. Tell us, what do you want?” The court stopped Khawaja Izhar from speaking. The Chief Justice remarked that Khawaja Sahib should sit down, former Mayor Sahib should also sit down.
The lawyer of MQM-Pakistan stated that our main concern is that without the amendments, there cannot be a transparent election.
The court inquired what is your problem. Tariq Mansoor Advocate, while giving a stand, said that applications related to MQM Pakistan constituencies and voter lists are pending.
The Chief Justice remarked that you want the election to be held later before you resolve the issues? You want no election? You say no election before the amendments?
MQM’s counsel stated that we want the Supreme Court’s decision to empower local bodies to be implemented.
PTI’s lawyer Abdul Wahab Baloch stated that the election was postponed 3 times. They say there is a shortage of personnel and 6,000 personnel were sent to Islamabad for the long march.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyer Usman Farooq Advocate took the position that the Supreme Court has rejected a similar request of MQM and PTI. In which an attempt was made to stop the election, all these points have been rejected by the Supreme Court. MQM had said in the Supreme Court that the election should be stopped until the amendments are made. The Supreme Court had ordered the Election Commission to conduct the local elections immediately. The High Court can be approached to hold the election, but a request cannot be made to stop it.
The court reserved the decision after hearing the arguments of the parties.
All administrative preparations for the election are complete
After the hearing, Provincial Election Commissioner Ejaz Chauhan said in an informal conversation with the media that all administrative preparations for the election are complete, which the court has informed, 45,000 personnel will be required for security.
Khawaja Izharul Hasan hugged Hafiz Naeemur Rahman
Talking to the media after the hearing, Waseem Akhtar said that Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI have supported the act in which no powers have been given.
MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan said that even if the entire Pund dies, the Mayor of Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI will not come.
An interesting scene was seen during the press conference of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Amir. MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan hugs Hafiz Naeemur Rahman as the press conference begins.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman responded enthusiastically to Khawaja Izharul Hasan and said that thankfully today Izharbhai did not say that the only solution is Jamaat-e-Islami.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman while speaking said that MQM wants elections to be held. We understand that the city is on the verge of destruction. 17, the project has been on hold for 17 years. The city has no heir. In these circumstances, when the election is announced, they say there is no election, it is a matter of shame. MQM people say there are no options. He has been the governor for 14 years.
PTI leader and opposition leader Haleem Adil Sheikh said in a media interview that the Election Commission is in collusion with the Sindh government and its allied parties. Imported government after defeat in by-elections Allies want to run away from local elections. 6 thousand police personnel have been sent to Islamabad but there is no police to conduct the election, MQM is now zero. All of them are fleeing from the municipal elections.
