Disposing of a matter related to Local Bodies (LB) polls in Punjab and Sindh on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Article 140 of the Constitution empowers the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to fulfill its responsibility of holding polls in the provinces. The ECP counsel requested a three-member bench led by the Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja comprising Justice Dost Muhammad and Qazi Faez Isa for more time to hold the LB polls, saying flood devastation in the provinces is one of the major hurdles in holding polls there.
He submitted that the concerned officials are engaged in the flood relief activities; however, the ECP is ready to fulfill its responsibility. Justice Qazi Faiz Isa observed that delay in holding the LB polls could not be tolerated, saying Pakistan's neighboring country Iran conducted LB polls twice even when it was in war with Iraq. He further remarked that Balochistan province held local government elections despite a lack of resources. Justice Dost Muhammad Khan observed it seems that both the provincial governments are not interested in releasing funds to local people as half of their tenure is over and a constitutional liability is yet to be fulfilled.
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