The Sindh High Court has reserved its decision on the petitions filed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against consecutive postponement of the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Chief Justice SHC Ahmed Ali Sheikh, while hearing the petition, inquired the provincial election commissioner regarding the days needed for the LG polls to which the officer replied that the commission needed 15 days for the elections, adding that the the electoral body was ready to hold LG polls but the delay was due to the security concerns.

A day earlier, the Sindh cabinet approved a proposal to delay LG polls in Karachi by 90 more days. This was the 4th time that the local bodies elections were put off in the metropolis.

During today’s hearing, the chief justice inquired the IG if he was ready to provide the required number of security personnel for the elections.

IG Sindh submitted the report regarding the stationing of police and Rangers, saying that 22,000 personnel were deployed during 2015 LG polls and that now 45,000 personnel were required as there had been a threat to the peace during the polls.

The court directed that if the polls could not be carried out in one go then it should be done in phases.

The IG Sindh said that they had a total force of 180,000. To which the chief justice inquired that how many personnel were deployed at the defense exhibition? IG Sindh replied that 3,000 personnel were deployed in the Expo Centre for the security of the exhibition.

The Advocate General said that holding election was the election commission’s responsibility. “We have conducted the first phase of the election and are still ready to conduct the LG polls.”

Meanwhile, the court rejected Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) petition seeking delay in the LG elections unless and until necessary amendments in relevant laws were introduced.

MQM-P’s counsel requested that his client be allowed to become intervener as well. the chief justice, however, rejected the plea for early hearing of MQM-P’s plea, saying the application would be taken up as per routine.

After all the arguments, the Sindh High Court reserved its verdict on the petitions of PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami.