The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved verdict on Sindh mayor and deputy mayor election case and remarked that the short order would be announced on Friday (April 15).
The three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman heard the case filed by Mutthadia Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The chief justice asked whether the law could be amended after issuance of election schedule.
Farooq H. Naek counsel for the Sindh government told the court that schedule for election of mayor and deputy mayor was not issued yet.
He said that the provincial government and the MQM had reached on consensus over election for reserved seats.
He said that the culture of horse trading would be discouraged over elections with show of hands.
Naek said that no body’s rights would be affected with show of hands.
On this the chief justice remarked that the political parties approach courts when their rights are affected.
Later talking to media outside Supreme Court MQM’ nominated Mayor for Karachi Waseem Akhtar said that MQM and Pakistan People’s Party had reached an agreement for the election on reserved seats. He said that the election on reserved seats would be held on the pattern of National Assembly and provincial assemblies.
He said that the both parties had decided to election for mayor and deputy mayor with secret balloting but it was authority of the apex court to decide the matter.
Senator Saeed Ghani of PPP said that MQM had realised that election on reserved seats was not possible with secret balloting. He said that same formula would be adopted for election on reserved seats as it was adopted in National Assembly and provincial assemblies.
He said that PPP was trying to hold free and fair elections in the province.
