KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan and provincial authorities on Monday on a petition calling for cancellation of the upcoming by-election in the National Assembly constituency (NA-256). A two-judge bench asked the respondent authorities to file their comments on the petition until Nov 23. The Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)’s general secretary Moulana Taj Muhammad Hanfi, who was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), petitioned the high court pleading it order the ECP to postpone the by-election until he is released. The petitioner said that the provincial government had recently ordered to detain him for 30 days under the MPO to keep him from contesting the upcoming by-election. He alleged that he was unlawfully detained as no reason had been assigned to justify the act. The court was pleaded to declare his detention illegal. He further contended that due to his detention, he will not be able to contest the polls, therefore, he requested the court to stop the ECP from conducting the NA-256 by-election until he is released. The by-election in NA-256 constituency is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2016.