By-elections, Karachi LG polls to be held as per schedule: ECP

KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced that by-elections on seven National Assembly (NA) seats and local body elections in Karachi would take place as per schedule, ARY News reported.

In a statement, the ECP said that by-elections for the seats of National and provincial assemblies will be held on October 16, while the second phase of local body elections in Karachi would take place on October 23.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the ECP chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad.

The constituencies where by-polls will be held include NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, NA-237 Malir and NA-239 Korangi Karachi.

However, the by-election in NA-45 Kurram has been postponed due to law and order situation, the ECP said, adding that a new schedule would be announced later.

Read More: SINDH POLICE SEEK POSTPONEMENT OF SECOND PHASE OF LG ELECTIONS

The meeting also discussed the second phase of local government elections in Sindh province and decided that polling in all districts of Karachi Division will be held as per schedule on October 23.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Interior ministry had requested the ECP to postpone the by-elections citing law and order situation in the country.

While the Sindh government had requested the poll regulatory body to postpone the local bodies elections in Karachi Division citing shortage of personnel to main law and order situation during polling.