SC rejects PTI petition to postpone LG polls in Sindh

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday turned down the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition to delay Local Government polls in the Sindh province. A single-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan conducted hearing of the petition of  PTI’s Sindh chapter president,  Ali Zaidi in his chamber and dismissed the petition   after hearing his counsel’s arguments against the objections of  SC registrar . Ali Zaidi had filed petition in the apex court praying for the cancellation of the notification issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the local bodies’ elections in Sindh. The ECP had announced that the first phase of local bodies’ elections in Sindh will take place on June 26. According to the electoral body, the first phase will cover 14 districts of Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas divisions. The second phase of LG elections covering rest of the province including Karachi and Hyderabad will take place on July 24. The Supreme Court directed the PTI leadership to approach Sindh High Court for the relief sought in the petition. Justice Ijaz order said, “On perusal of the petition as well as the reliefs sought, I am of the view that the said reliefs can also be sought from the High Court.” It further said, “In case, the judgements of this court are not being implemented, the High Court is the competent forum to seek implementation of such judgements.” The court upheld the objections of the SC registrar and dismissed PTI’s petition seeking judgement on LG elections in Sindh.