ECP strings being pulled from unconcerned quarters: Zardari

KARACHI: Former President and Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that postponement of local government elections in 81 Union Councils of Sindh was tantamount to depriving his party of its rights.

Zardari said that the changes of 22 polling stations in Badin at the last minute were meant to deprive the PPP of its lawful rights, and an attempt to rescue some political orphans from defeat.

Criticising the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its last-minute measure, he said it seemed that the ECP's strings were being pulled from unconcerned quarters.

The former president said that the PPP-led Sindh government had provided all possible facilities to conduct a fair, transparent and independent election.

He further claimed that through legislation the PPP government had given the ECP complete autonomy.
The Election Commission should use its authority instead of succumbing to external pressure, he said.

The ECP has said that it postponed the elections of 81 Union Councils of Sindh following the Supreme Court’s decision of upholding the Sindh High Court’s verdict regarding suspension of recently carried out delimitation.

Zardari's son and PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called the announcement and "extremely controversial decision" in a message posted on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Extremely controversial decision to postpone LB elections in certain UCs ,predominantly in Sindh, the night before the election.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 18, 2015