PPP asks ECP to delay LG polls in Karachi by a week

Karachi
The special assistant to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Waqar Mehdi, has appealed to the Election Commission of Pakistan on behalf of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to delay the local government election by a week, scheduled to be held in Karachi on December 3rd, on account of Hazrat Imam Hussain’s Chehlum.
Talking to The News at his office the information secretary of PPP in the province, said 20 Safar — the day when the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain was observed — was expected to fall on December 3. He said holding the local government election on a day when the security situation in Karachi is already very sensitive on account of mourning observations was not a practical.
He said delaying the local government election in Karachi by a week would also give the members of Shia community to fully observe the Chehlum. He said holding the local government on the day of Chehlum would on one hand affect the election, but also prevent the mourners from fully observing their religious rituals.
He said the PPP was going to participate in the upcoming local bodies election with fervour and was going to surprise the people of Karachi.
He disclosed that the party had opted for seat adjustments in all six districts of Karachi with other democratic parties, but would not be forming any alliance with anyone.
He said the PPP had commenced its door-to-door campaign for the local government election and wanted them to be conducted in a transparent manner.
Talking on other matters, Mehdi disclosed that the chief minister had advised Sindh chief secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Administrator Sajjad Hussain Abbasi to start working on the paperwork for the implementation of development projects and work could commence after the local bodies election.
He said the chief minister had directed the officials to begin working on implementing the Rs150 billion worth of development schemes, including construction and repair of roads, flyovers and underpasses, announced by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
The Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani commented that the resignations of Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPAs were still in office and there was no hurry to accept them.
He said Muttahida definitely held mandate in urban areas of the province.
Meanwhile, Senator Saeed Ghani also said that the PPP was fully prepared to contest the local government election all across the province.
He expressed his concern over the targeted attacks on traffic policemen and said terrorist groups were retaliating from the blows dealt to them by the Karachi operation.
Scrutiny continues
The process of the scrutiny of the candidates contesting the third phase of local government election continued on the second day Friday, with deputy commissioners —also the district returning officers — accepted the nomination papers of hundreds of candidates, adds Shamim Bano.
The scrutiny of nomination papers will be completed on October 13 and the candidates can filed their appeals till October 30.
The decision on candidates’ appeals will be finalised by November 5, after which they can withdraw their candidacy till November 6. The final list of candidates will be displayed on November 7.
The date of polling has been set for December 3.
A total of 59 returning officers and 113 assistant returning officers have been appointed for the third phase of local government elections.
Polling for the third phase of the LG polls will be held on December 3 in Karachi in districts South, Central, West, East, Malir and Korangi.
So far, a total of 9,929 candidates have filed their nomination papers on 1,439 local government seats.