Karachi LG delay.

TWO months after local government polls were finally held in Karachi, the metropolis is no closer to having a functioning, elected municipality. The delay behind the formation of a new City Council and election of a new mayor has been caused by the fact that polls in 11 union committees, where candidates had died, have not been held. The Jamaat-i-Islami, which came in a close second behind the PPP in the results tallied thus far, has cried foul, blaming both the Sindh government and the ECP for the delay. The party held a sit-in outside the Karachi office of the ECP last week, claiming that the commission was 'facilitating' the PPP's 'post-poll rigging'. JI chief Sirajul Haq has also warned the PPP against queering the pitch where the election of the Karachi mayor is concerned.

It is indeed a matter of concern why elections for the remaining 11 UCs have not been announced. The unfortunate fact is that many of Pakistan's political parties seem to have an aversion to elections, specifically to the third tier, though as recent events...