KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday sought provincial authorities response on a plea of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement challenging the demarcation of constituencies in different parts of the province for the local government elections.

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, accompanied by party leader Senator Barrister Faroogh Nasim, had filed two constitutional petitions challenging the delimitation of Karachi and Mirpurkhas constituencies by the Sindh government.

A two-judge bench adjourned the hearing to Aug 30 after the additional advocate general sought time to file comments on behalf of the provincial government.

Dr Sattar in his petition submitted that new delimitations of the constituencies were illegal. The provincial government had shown favouritism in these limita-tions, he said, adding that these delimitations were in violation of Supreme Court order.

According to him, the provincial government fixed the number of union councils in each district rather than deciding them on the basis of population. The provincial government included some areas of Malir district in Korangi district and several areas of Korangi district in Malir district during the delimitation process, he said.

Delimitation was the Election Commission responsibility, the petitioner said, adding that the provincial government officials completed the process that was against the law.

He alleged that the provincial government had already planned to rig the local government elections as they ignored the population and rejected his party`s objections to the move.

He requested the court to declare the delimitation of these constituencies ille-gal and restrain relevant authorities to conduct local government elections in these constituencies.

Four cities Meanwhile, MQM leader Syed Sardar Ahmed filed a constitutional petition against the demarcation of constituencies in Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Tando Allah Yar and Tando Jam.

He stated that the delimitation of the constituencies in the areas was illegal and unconstitutional, as urban parts were illegally included in rural areas while rural parts were shown in urban areas.

He also said that the delimitation was the ECP responsibility and added that the provincial officials had completed the process which was against the law.

The petitioner requested the court to declare the delimitation of constituencies for local government elections illegal and restrain the authorities from conducting local government elections in the four cities.