The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the Attorney General of Pakistan to submit comments of the federal government on a constitutional petition filed against the postponement of the Local Government elections in the province for an indefinite period.
Former Tando Allahyar Nazim/Sindh Local Council Association President Raheela Magsi filed a constitutional petition through her lawyer Shabeer Shah, stating that the Local Government system is protected under Articles 140A and 32 of the Constitution, according to which after completion of the elected nazims’ tenure, the government is constitutionally bound to hold Local Government elections.
However, after appointing government officers on the posts of nazims, the provincial government is now using delaying tactics with regard to holding Local Government elections. Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan had issued an ordinance for postponement of the elections, and on September 22 last year, the Assembly postponed the Local Government elections for an indefinite period because of the flood in the province.
The Chief Secretary, the Local Government Secretary and the federal government were cited as respondents. On Friday, Additional Advocate General Sarwar Khan submitted the provincial government’s written version.
According to that statement, the government has formed a core committee with its allied parties and the government is of the view that the Local Government system in Sindh should be the same as in the rest of the provinces. Consultation with other provincial governments is under way, which is why more time might be needed, the statement added.
