Sirajul Haq requests CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial to take suo motu notice regarding the local government elections of Karachi
LAHORE, Mar 26 (SABAH): Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq has requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial to take suo motu notice regarding the local government elections of Karachi. In a letter, Sirajul Haq has appealed CJP Umar Ata Bandial to take suo motu notice over the failure and partiality of Election Commission of Pakistan to hold free, fair and transparent local government elections in Karachi.
Sirjaul Haq wrote in the letter that JI thinks that ECP not only failed to hold transparent election in Karachi but also during the process of electioneering and later on committed worst kind of impartiality. Sirajul Haq along with his application has sent proofs of rigging in 12 union councils along with worst kind of partiality of the Election Commission of Pakistan in favor of the provincial ruling party.
Sirajul Haq has requested the CJP to take suo motu notice while using his constitutional powers and should deliver judgment on the intentional violation of constitution by the ECP. Sirajul Haq has also requested the CJP to declare the results of the disputed town committees null and void.
It has been mentioned in the application that under the constitution in State of Pakistan it has been settled to use all the powers through federal, provincial and local government elected representatives. He said that to ensure this and for holding free, fair and transparent elections the Election Commission of Pakistan has been established. Sirajul Haq said that worst kind of rigging in 15th January 2023 local government elections and failure of Election Commission to stop this rigging is the subject of his letter.
Sirajul Haq said that he also wanted to draw the attention of CJP towards the economic and political importance of Karachi in the country, adding that Karachi is sensitive due to circumstances it has faced during the last 30/35 years. He said that due to worsening local bodies circumstances the Karachiites have pinned hopes of improvement with the passage of everyday. He said that the Karachiites have hailed the enthusiastic struggle of JI for the resolution of the problems and have given highest votes to JI in the local government elections.
Sirajul Haq said it is legal obligation to hold local government elections within 120 days after the completion of the term of the LG institutions but after completion of tenure in 2009 the elections were held in 2015 and after completion of tenure in 2020, the elections have been held in 2023. He said that after the issuance of the schedule of the polls, the polling was deferred for three times on the desire of the Sindh government. He said that for holding of these elections, JI had to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan, Sindh High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan continuously. He said that prior to holding elections on 15th January 2023, the ruling party of Sindh had started announcing that the next Mayor of Karachi will be a “jiyala”.
Sirajul Haq said that to achieve this purpose, flawed voter lists were prepared, delimitations based on malafidy were carried out and polling staff was appointed on the basis of political affiliation, adding that JI continuously approached the ECP against these issues but it remained fruitless.