On the provincial police chief’s report of unsatisfactory law and order in Karachi, the Chief Election Commissioner on Saturday announced the postponement of elections on the two seats of Azad Kashmir refugees in Sindh-Balochistan LA-30 and LA-36 until further notice.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Wajjid Durani had stated in a report to the chief election commissioner that the law and order situation in Sindh especially its capital, Karachi, is not favourable for holding elections. “Targeted killing have not stopped; a bomb was defused in the Jinnah hospital premises [the other day]; a bomb exploded at Tariq Road on Saturday and there have been threats to polling administration. Because of this, polling on two seats of Sindh has been postponed.”
On June 24, Pakistan Today had published a news story, disclosing that elections in Sindh may be postponed due to emerging differences between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) but citing law and order situation of Karachi. The PPP wanted to give one of the seats to MQM, while the MQM had demanded both of them.
Sources had informed Pakistan Today that a high-level meeting of leaders from both political parties was held to resolve the issue of candidature. The PPP offered one seat to the MQM and promised to accommodate another MQM candidate after elections. Assurances were given to the MQM that after the formation of the Azad Kashmir government, the adviser to prime minister will be nominated from the MQM, but the latter refused to accept this offer.
They added that the PPP had also refused to give both seats to MQM because of the tough competition between PPP and PML-N in Azad Kashmir. The number game will matter substantially in the formation of the next AJK government. Another reason cited was that it was difficult for the PPP to withdraw its candidate Sardar Maqsooduzaman, as he is a close relative of Sardar Yaqoob, who is supporting the PPP on 41 seats, and the PPP cannot afford to annoy its ally in elections.
