A full bench of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday declared void the union council elections in district Ghotki of Sindh province and directed the Election Commission to announce a new schedule of election after fresh delimitation within six weeks.
Some 60 councillors and three union Nazims were elected unopposed from the district. Pakistan Peoples Party members of the Sindh Assembly, Jam Saifullah Dharejo and Jam Mumtaz, had challenged the elections.
Counsel of the PPP leaders Mujeeb Pirzada contended that the Sindh government has enhanced the number of union councils from 35 to 46 with mala fide intention, as these delimitation was not based on rational grounds.
He said in one section of the district there are 13 seats for a population of 15,000, but in another section there are 13 seats for a population of 30,000.
He said that this delimitation was unjustified and meant for checking the representation of opposition from the district. He said the Sindh government has issued four notifications to this effect, which were upheld by the Sindh High Court (SHC).
Sharifuddin Pirzada and Sindh advocate general appeared on behalf of the Sindh government.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice M. Javed Buttar and Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani after hearing the preliminary arguments set aside the notifications of the Sindh government as well as the impugned judgement of the Sindh High Court and directed the Sindh government to enhance the number of union councils in the district, but with rational grounds and in accordance with the Revenue Act and Local Government Ordinance within six weeks.
The Election Commission has also been directed by the court to announce a fresh election schedule after the new delimitation.