KARACHI - The Sindh government has decided to conduct local government elections on November 27, according to advocate general SM Khalid Javed.
The Supreme Court (SC) was informed of this decision during a hearing at its Quetta registry. The apex court had ordered all the provincial governments to submit the schedule of local bodies polls until September 15.
Earlier, the Sindh government had requested the Supreme Court to grant time until December to conduct the local government elections as the elections will require a favourable law and order situation, the completion of the delimitation process and some legal amendments but this was not accepted by the apex court’s larger bench.
According to some media reports, the provincial government have not yet taken different other political stakeholders into confidence on the issue but government sources said they would be contacted soon and apprised of the reasons behind the decision.
Earlier, on Tuesday, advocate general Khalid Jawed Khan submitted a report of the chief secretary, who said that the government had earlier reiterated that it would fully comply with any order that may be passed by the apex court. After the new act, the apex court had approved the summary to start the process of delimitation, which may be completed by October 15, he recalled. In discharge of its constitutional obligations and as guided by the apex court in the Watan Party case, the secretary said the Sindh government in collaboration with the federal government has also started targeted actions in different parts of the city.
“Due to the resolve and commitment of the government and untiring efforts of the members of the law enforcing agencies, criminals are being apprehended and shall be tried before the courts,” he said.
According to the secretary, the government is making all efforts to ensure that the atmosphere is conducive for peaceful elections. “This may also require some time,” the secretary observed, adding that local government elections may need more preparations than the general elections so the government will need more time.
Keeping in view all the facts and circumstances and subject to preparations by the election commission, the Sindh government will be in a position to hold these elections on December 23, he had said. The report further had said that the government will accept any decision that the apex court makes in this situation.