KARACHI - The PML-Q Sindh has announced to boycott the local government elections scheduled on January 18, terming the process as an attempt to hijack public resources.
PML-Q Sindh chief Haleem Adil Sheikh announced the party decision during a news conference at the Press Club here on Thursday.
He said that the PML-Q would not stay silent over such injustice and illegal delimitation process which has placed a question mark on the credibility of elections. “We don’t believe the LG polls will be held in a fair and transparent manner. The people are not optimistic about the polls as the electoral process is going to be rigged in Sindh,” Sheikh said. He said that a new census is required in Sindh based on fresh delimitation.
To a question, Sheikh said the results have been formulated before the LG polls episode. There is no doubt that the local government system is the only way to facilitate the masse as 80 per cent of the public issues are connected with municipal institutes. But the controversial system implemented is against the true sprit of the democracy, he added.
The district officers have been authorised to distribute local communities including metropolitan corporations, district councils, town administrations, municipal committees, union councils and wards, he said adding that the process of the LG polls has so far been convoluted, confusing the contesting candidates and masses. He further said that the delimitation of constituencies was not made public.
Talking about the SLGA 2013, Sheikh said all the political forces including the PML-Q had rejected the bill but of no avail. Reviewing the overall situation, the PML-Q has decided to keep itself away from the LG polls, he concluded.
PML-Q Sindh general sectary Rais Sarwar Siyal, Karachi chief Jaffarul Hassan, sectary administration Naeem Adil Sheikh and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.