The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected the request of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) Pakistan and declared that local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad will be held on January 15 as per schedule.
MQM Pakistan had challenged the decision of the Election Commission regarding the possible use of two separate electoral lists simultaneously in the local body elections.
A three-member bench of the Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja reserved the verdict in the case.
The Jamaat-e-Islami had also approached the Election Commission demanding that the elections be held as per the schedule, which had been postponed several times for one reason or another.
Announcing the decision, the Election Commission directed the officials to ensure that the elections are held on time
During the previous hearing, the Chief Election Commissioner had told MQM Pakistan’s lawyer that he had gone to various forums. Still, the issue of electoral rolls had never been raised before.
He asked the lawyer to raise any other issues so that they could be consolidated.
The Chief Election Commissioner further remarked that the lawyers were making false statements regarding dual electoral rolls, rejecting their statement.
