ECP rejects plea to defer Karachi, Hyderabad LG polls.

ISLAMABAD -- The Election Commission of Pakistan [ECP] yesterday rejecting the request to postpone LG polls in Karachi, Hyderabad and Dadu once again issued an order to the Interior Ministry to ensure the elections tomorrow [January 15].

The electoral watchdog, in a high level meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, expressed unwillingness to further delay the local bodies elections due to legal and constitutional requirements. The ruling party in Sindh province (PPP) on Thursday had requested to postpone the elections in Karachi division, Hyderabad and two tehsils of the Dadu district, Khairpur Nathan and Meher. However, the Commission after a detailed huddle reached a consensus to hold the polls as per the schedule and ordered the interior ministry to arrange deployment of Army and Rangers personnel at highly sensitive polling stations.

The Commission found no solid reasons to postpone the polls. Moreover, the Islamabad Election Commission also formed a central control room which will be functional from today [January 14]. Senior officers will monitor the election process from the control room. It was decided to not allow anyone to disturb the election process as a strict action will be taken for violating the laws.

The MQM-P, after its reunification, has once again said that the local bodies elections in Karachi and Hyderabad could not be held until new delimitations are done.

However, the party did not rule out its participation in the elections. Reacting to the ECP...