Staff Report
KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have agreed to fresh delimitation of Karachi, while Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) demanded the exercise for the whole country, SAMAA reports.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in its bid to take on board all stakeholders in the city, is holding meetings with political parties to lend ear to their reservations in connection with the proposed fresh delimitation of the metropolis’ constituencies.
Election Commission’s Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan held meetings with delegations of PPP, ANP, JI and MQM at the ECP’s provincial office.
After the meeting, MQM’s Raza Haroon said that his party has sought court order from the ECP which was not available. In the absence of any written document no discussion could take place, he stated and added that the ECP Secretary has also agreed with us.
Raza said delimitation should be done in the whole country.
Voicing its support for the new demarcation of the constituencies in the city, PPP said the party endorsed the ruling of Supreme Court.
The PPP delegation led by Taj Hyder said the previous delimitations were based on ethnicity, adding, “We pinpointed the flaws so that the delimiting process could be facilitated.”
Assuring the full-fledged cooperation to the political parties, the Secretary ECP said the issue will be tackled soon in consultation with the political parties.
Also, the ANP leaders including Bashir Jan, Amir Nawab and Pir Riaz presented the proposals before the commission. Bashir Jan said the party is raring to take every possible step to cooperate for the peace in the city.
Talking to media after having a meeting with the secretary, Muhammed Hussain Mehanti, the leader of JI delegation said he extends full support to the directives of the apex court with regard to the fresh demarcations and proposals in this connection will be submitted within a week.
The Supreme Court on November 28 directed the ECP to delimit the existing constituencies in Karachi. A five member bench of apex court, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was hearing the case regarding Karachi law and order situation.
A delegation of PML-N lead by Salim Zia expressed no confidence in Provincial Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch and cast doubt over electoral process in his presence.
Nowshehro Feroz delimitation
The ECP today ordered for fresh delimitation in Nowshehro Feroz. A notification has also been issued in this regard. –SAMAA
