ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will take a final decision on holding local government elections in Karachi today (Tuesday).
The fate of local government elections in the metropolitan city still hangs in the balance. The Sindh government has made three requests to the ECP seeking postponement of the local government elections for three months in seven districts of Karachi scheduled for October 23.
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The ECP met here on Monday with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in the chair. The Sindh government maintains that there were difficulties in providing security for the polls as it is facing a shortage of 16,000 police personnel.
The ECP directed the interior ministry to let it know by Tuesday if it can make up for the shortfall of 16,000 personnel for election duty. An assurance by the interior ministry for providing the required force could make the holding of polls possible. As many as 5,000 polling stations will be set up for the LG elections, out of which around 1,305 were classified as highly sensitive and 3,688 as sensitive.
The security arrangements are aimed at ensuring peaceful conduct of the elections and restoration of law and order. According to the estimates, 39,293 police personnel would be required for the elections. Of these, 12,465 would be from districts of Karachi, while 10,042 personnel would be provided by the units. There are currently 22,507 police personnel and a shortfall of 16,786 personnel.
