KARACHI (National Times) – The Sindh government on Saturday once again asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the local body elections in Karachi division and Hyderabad districts citing delimitation issue and non-availability of army troops for deployment at the polling stations.

The latest bid comes as the Muttahidah Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key coalition partner of PDM and PPP in centre, is mulling to pull out of the alliance if its demands regarding delimitation are not met.

A day earlier, the top electoral body had rejected the provincial government’s identical plea to delay the elections, vowing that LG polls would be held as per planned, Jan 15.

In the fresh letter to the provincial election commissioner, the Sindh government stated the ECP, through his Jan 13 order, rejected withdrawal of notification regarding the number of Union Committees in the Karachi division and Hyderabad district.

“Furthermore, in the said order no response has been made to the concerns of the provincial Govt regarding the non-availability of Pakistan Army & Civil Armed Forces,” the letter reads.

Following the ECP order, it said a meeting was held at the office of chief secretary which was also attended by the secretary of ECP as well as senior officers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

In this meeting, the law enforcement and intelligence agencies apprised the participants of the precarious law and order situation along with specific threats to various political leaders and workers of political parties.

The meeting, according to the letter, has further corroborated the fear and apprehension of the government that due to the prevalent situation, “there is a greater need for the presence of troops of Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces to be statically deployed at the polling stations”.

In light of the security concerns, the provincial government has asked the ECP to delay the polls in Karachi division and Hyderabad district.