KARACHI: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi on Thursday showed disappointment over the Election Commission's 'leniency' to the Sindh government regarding the delimitation and delay in holding local bodies polls. Reacting to the ECP's decision, JI Karachi Chief, Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the move is 'disappointing' for the public.

The commission has extended yet another month to the Sindh government to make an amendment to laws on the local bodies, as he described the move on delimitation as equal to 'supporting' the PPP rule to delay the elections.

He said that the Sindh government has been shunning holding the local bodies elections because it has a 'feudal mindset' whereas the election commission has given an impression of a support to the PPP rule with its decision.

"The continuous delay in holding of the local bodies polls is an unconstitutional act," Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said, and added that the ECP has a constitutional obligation to ensure the polls in a given time. The election commission should come clear on its position on the delay on polls 'if the commission was facing crisis of power'.

He demanded of the ECP to bind the Sindh government to hold the elections within the stipulated time, saying that the PPP government is playing delaying tactics that failed the commission to exercise its authority.

He slammed the PPP for 'running away' from the local bodies elections, saying that the Sindh government has monopolised the provincial political system with the advent of 18th constitutional amendment. The JI would utilise all available options to resist the Sindh government's delaying tactics in holding local bodies polls, he vowed.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021