ECP declines govt’s request to defer by-elections, Sindh local govt polls

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday burhsed aside the request put up by the coalition government to defer local body elections in Karachi and by-polls for national and provincial assemblies.

The electoral watchdog had previously announced October 23 as the date for local government elections in Karachi division and Oct 16 as the date for by-elections in nine National Assembly and three provincial assembly constituencies.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja held a meeting in this regard today and emphasised the importance of holding the elections peacefully. 

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The commission's Secretary, Omar Hamid Khan informed the meeting’s participants that the commission had completed all its arrangements and was ready to hold the polls.

He, however, added that the stance of the provincial governments and security institutions regarding the availability of their services during elections was required to ensure the provision of a peaceful environment to voters on polling day.

After the meeting, the comission decided that all by-polls -- apart from NA-45 (Kurram-I) due to the law and order situation -- would be held on time, along with the Karachi local body elections.

The ECP said the date for the Kurram by-election would be announced later.

The commission's decision comes after the federal government formally requested the electoral watchdog to put off the by-polls for 90 days due to security institutions and provincial administrations being busy in relief, rescue, and rehabilitation operations after the floods.

The elections will be held in NA-22 (Mardan-III), NA-24 (Charsadda-II), NA-31 (Peshawar-V), NA-45 (Kurram-I), NA-108 (Faisalabad-VIII), NA-118 (Nankana Sahib-II), NA-237 (Malir-II), NA-239 (Korangi-I), NA-157 (Multan-IV), PP-139 (Sheikhupura-V), PP-241 (Bahawalnagar-V) and PP-209 (Khanewal-VII).