Zardari accuses ECP of manipulating LG polls in Sindh

• PPP co-chief says changes of 22 polling stations in Badin was an attempt to rescue some political orphans from defeat
• ECP says withdrew schedule for LG polls in compliance with SHC order to revise list of rural and urban areas councils

Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that the postponement of local government elections in 81 Union Councils of Sindh was tantamount to depriving his party of its rights.

Zardari said that the changes of 22 polling stations in Badin at the last minute were meant to deprive the PPP of its lawful rights, and an attempt to rescue some political orphans from defeat.

Criticising the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its last-minute measure, he said it seemed that the ECP’s strings were being pulled from unconcerned quarters. The former president said that the PPP-led Sindh government had provided all possible facilities to conduct a fair, transparent and independent election.

He further claimed that through legislation the PPP government had given the ECP complete autonomy. The ECP should use its authority instead of succumbing to external pressure, he said.

ECP responds to Zardari’s criticism:

Reacting to Zardari’s criticism, the ECP rejected the allegations that it had delayed the election in different union councils of Sindh.

“The Commission denies the allegations and clarifies that High Court of Sindh passed an order on November 17, giving direction that the Election Commission would issue the revised lists keeping in view the instruction of the order/judgment on September 18, within 24 hours of this order, in such manner that the election process, which is scheduled for November 19, would not suffer and the elections be held as per the schedule,” said the spokesman.

He said that the matter was discussed in the Election Commission on  the report submitted by the Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh that it is practically impossible to revise the list of constituencies within 24 hours and to hold polling on November 19.

The delimitation exercise requires sufficient time and is subject to the demarcation of urban and rural areas by the provincial government and issuance of notification in this regard.

Furthermore, it is not possible to hold poll on November 19, without completion of delimitation exercise to comply with order dated November 17, 2015 passed by the High Court of Sindh, he added.

Accordingly, Election Commission preferred an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan whereby prayed that the judgment dated 17-11-2015 passed by a learned Division Bench of High Court of Sindh at Karachi may kindly be suspended till the final disposal of instant case,” he maintained.

The Supreme Court heard the case and submission made by the Election Commission that all arrangements for holding poll on November 19 have been made, polling material delivered to the Presiding Officers and Electors are ready to elect the representatives.

The SC passed order:  “Keeping in view the difficulty faced by the  ECP and making compliance of the impugned order, we deem it appropriate to observe that in case it is not possible for the ECP to make compliance of High Court short order, then it may, on its own accord, consider postponement of the elections in the affected districts and for this purpose the directions contained in the impugned order shall not come in their way”.

The ECP accordingly withdrew the schedule for local Government Elections in respect of affected councils, in compliance of the orders passed by the Sindh High Court to revise the list of rural and urban areas councils, said the spokesman. The fresh schedule for elections will be announced after completion of delimitation exercise, he added.