ECP reserves judgment in Karachi LG polls postponement case.

ISLAMABAD -- The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its judgment on the case of repeated postponement of Local Government elections in Karachi.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard LG polls postponement case, saying that the commission will soon announce its reserved decision, a decision that could come into force.

Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab said that the first phase of the local polls in Sindh have been completed, 'while in Karachi we are ready to hold elections in two phases'.

Murtaza Wahab said the Sindh government was unable to hold elections currently. 'It is our responsibility to hold elections, you have taken this power from us,' CEC remarked. 'Under which rule you have amended the local government law,' ECP member Ikramullah Khan asked.

"It is not possible to provide security forces and administrative staff for the elections in Karachi. "About 1,300 polling stations in Karachi are sensitive, and every station requires eight officials," said Wahab.

Member ECP said what the Sindh government wanted. Murtaza said the provincial government has approved postponement of LG polls for 90 days.

According to rules announcing elections was the right of Sindh government and the provincial government will announce holding elections in consultation with the election commission. Sindh Chief Secretary said due to floods, the deployment of 17,000 security personnel in Karachi was impossible.

IG Sindh Police also backed the government's stance to put off local government elections. 'Any untoward incident could happen, we have a shortage of 17,000 personnel,' he said. 'We can hold election on the order of the election commission but will face security issues,' IG Sindh said.

ECP special secretary Zafar Iqbal said that the LG polls were postponed due to floods...