JI moves SHC against CM, two ministers.

KARACHI -- The Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday moved the Sindh High Court seeking contempt proceedings against the Sindh chief minister and two provincial ministers for reportedly obstructing and creating hurdles in the process of local government elections scheduled to be held on Sunday (today).

Party leaders Monem Zafar Khan and Saifuddin filed an application under the Contempt of Court Act and cited Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, ministers Nasir Hussain Shah and Sharjeel Memon as alleged contemnors.

The petitioners submitted that on Nov 18 while deciding one of two petitions filed by JI, the SHC had directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions within two months and notify a polling date in 15 days.

Thereafter, they argued that the ECP had annoAunced that the second phase of local government polls would be held on Jan 15, but the Muttahida Qaumi MovAement-PakAistan, an ally of the coalition government at the Centre, was pressurising the Sindh government to use its powers legally or illegally for postponement of LG polls.

They further stated that on Jan 12, the provincial government had withdrawn the notifications about delimitation on the demand of the MQM-P, but on the following day the ECP had rejected the request of the PPP-led provincial government to postpone the LG polls for the fourth time.

The petitioners contended that the chief minister had chaired the so-called cabinet meeting...