Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reserved its judgement on the Sindh government’s plea against Sindh High Court’s verdict on the mode of election for Karachi mayor and deputy mayor. The short order would be issued on Friday (today).

The three-member bench of the apex court, which heard the case, consisted of Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman and was headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali. Farooq H Naek, counsel for the Sindh government, said in his argument against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement counsel that local government elections were supposed to be held in three phases and the election of the mayor and deputy mayor had to be held in the third phase. He said that schedule for the third phase of the election had not been issued yet. He said the provincial government and the MQM had reached a consensus on the mode of election for reserved seats by a show of hand. He said that horse-trading would be encouraged if the election is held by secret ballot. He said the provincial government wanted transparent and free election.