ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said the local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad would be held on January 15 (tomorrow) as per schedule.

The ECP directed the Sindh government to ensure ‘foolproof preparations for peaceful elections,’ an official handout signed by the ECP spokesperson said. The ECP rejected the demand of the Sindh government to postpone the LG polls due to law and order situation and terror threats.

An emergency review meeting of the ECP chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja was held here on Saturday to discuss the Sindh government’s request for postponement of LG polls in which it was decided that there would be no change in the already announced election schedule.

The meeting was also attended by the Election Commission Secretary Umar Hameed and provincial election commissioner Aijaz Anwer Chohan via video link. The Sindh government, in a letter to the ECP on Saturday, cited input from the intelligence agencies regarding terror threats and “reiterated the request that the 2nd Phase of LG polls to the extent of Karachi Division and Hyderabad District be postponed till such time that the required security is available at the polling stations.”