PPP slams, MQM hails local polls postponement in Sindh

PPP Chairman in his tweet on Wednesday evening termed the ECP’s decision to postpone LB elections in certain union councils (UCs) to be “extremely controversial”.

Extremely controversial decision to postpone LB elections in certain UCs ,predominantly in Sindh, the night before the election.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 18, 2015

On the other hand, MQM hailed the ECP for deferring the polls in “PPP-made local constituencies”.

MQM Rabita Committee in a statement said that ‘PPP’s illegal delimitations, carved out by merging rural areas with urban, deprived the people of their right of representation’.

Muttahida had challenged the delimitation process in Sindh High Court (SHC), which had declared the delimitations illegal.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court also upheld the SHC verdict, following which the ECP postponed polls for 81 union councils (UCs), 15 town committees and four municipal committees in districts Hyderabad, Badin, Tharparker, Tando Allahyar, Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushero Feroze and Jamshoro.

Meanwhile, CM Qaim Ali Shah also voiced his party’s reservations with regard to postponement of polls.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi on Wednesday night, he said his party will not go for the boycott of elections.

He, however, termed the decision unfair which, according to him, was aimed at affecting the PPP.

“In the morning, polls are to be held, while the ECP itself is not sure where it has to conduct the elections and where not,” Shah slammed.

“The candidates and the voters are distressed after such a decision,” he added. “Never in the history were polls deferred hours before its conduct.”

We will protest this postponement remaining within the legal ambit, the CM clarified.