The Sindh police have written to the provincial home department seeking the postponement of the twice-delayed Sindh Local Government (LG) elections for a third time, citing issue of manpower.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced that the polls in all seven districts of Karachi would be held on October 23. The second phase of LG elections - in Karachi, Hyderabad and Thatta - was initially scheduled for July 26.

It was later moved up to August 28 following rains, and then moved up to OCtober 23.

Now, Sindh Police and other provincial government departments have recommended that the polling be pushed forward by another three months as they are still scrambling to deal with the fallout of the floods.

Around 49,000 policemen are required for the municipal election in Karachi, said the letter, saying they were short of 16,782 cops.

The first phase of Sindh local government polls, held in June this year, was dominated by the Pakistan Peoples Party.