SHC urges ECP to hold LB polls in Karachi, Hyderabad without further delay.

KARACHI -- Sindh High Court (SHC) criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for sitting on the local bodies (LB) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad, urged them to hold LB election without further delay.

During the hearing of the petitions submitted by PTI and JI on Thursday, the SHC expressed its displeasure over the holdup.

Headed by Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh, a 2-member bench took up the case. Justice Yousaf Ali, questioned the ECP counsel during the hearing that why local government elections were being delayed repeatedly. CJ Shaikh remarked that it was ECP's responsibility to hold local government elections.

In his reply, the ECP's counsel said it was a public holiday on Wednesday due to which the commission's meeting could not be held. The Chie Justice SHC lamented, 'It's ECP, not a school. So what if it was a holiday? The meeting could have been held. Enough is enough. Go hold LB elections.'

He asked where were the reports the court had sought from DG Rangers and IG Sindh.

Regarding the ECP's excuse that LB polls were not being held because of a shortage of security personnel for the election, CJ SHC unleashed a flurry of questions at the defendant's lawyer.

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