PPP springs a surprise with victory in Karachi as rivals cry foul

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 17 Jan 2023

KARACHI:The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is leading in the long-awaited results of the Karachi local body elections by securing 93 seats followed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) which secured 86 seats as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday evening released the final consolidated results of all 235 union councils in Sindh’s Karachi division.

Complete results 

According to the complete results, out of the 235 union councils (UCs) up for grabs, PPP leads with victories on 93 UCs followed by JI which secured 86, PTI 40, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seven, JUI-F and independent three, while the Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) two.

JI announces protest

Jamat-e-Islami (JI) on Monday announced protest against “delayed and tempered result” in Sindh local government (LG) polls across all major cities in the country from Tuesday.

JI chief Siraj ul Haq said that the JI had sprung up as a big party in the election adding the delay in reporting the result by the Election Commission of Pakistan had spurred doubts. “Not only the JI, but other parties have also suffered due the result”, he added.

Mr Haq summoned the party session on Tuesday to finalise the strategy.

Bilawal claims sweeping victory

In a tweet, PPP chairperson and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said his party swept the second phase of the local government election. 

Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman threatened on Sunday to stage protests across the city, if the announcement of the local government elections’ results was delayed. Speaking to media, Mr Rehman said the local government elections were held despite all the conspiracies. Lashing out at the political opponents, Mr Rehman said, "Instead of contesting the elections, the elements of conspiracy escaped." 

Speaking on the turnout, Mr Rehman said, "The voting turnout was above 25 per cent, but if there had been a week before the elections, the turnout would have been above 50 per cent." 

Taking a jibe at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he said, "The PML-N was never interested in holding the local government elections. "We said we would not let anyone avoid elections." He lamented, "the form 11 was not being provided to his leadership, warning that the entire city will be shut down if results are not announced." 

PTI threatens to shut down Karachi if mandate snatched

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership threatened on Sunday to shut down Karachi if mandate in the local government elections will be snatched. 

Speaking to media, flanked by Haleem Adil Sheikh and Firdous Shamim Naqvi, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail said, "Today, the entire Karachi stood by PTI Chief Imran Khan." Talking about the turnout, Mr Ismail said, "There was a low turnout due to the political uncertainty." 

"I want to give the good news to the people of Karachi that the PTI has already won the elections," Mr Ismail claimed. 

PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh lambasted the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying, "The PPP’s political future is ended. We will not tolerate the rigging." He also warned, "we will not forgive the Sindh IG and chief secretary, if any wrongdoing happens." 

Firdous Shamim Naqvi also took a swipe at the PPP, saying, "The PPP has been staging drama in Sindh for the last 25 years." 

MQM-P leaders reject LG polls results

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders rejected the local government elections, saying the political ideology was much important to the MQM than the elections.

MQM convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the MQM showed courage by boycotting the local government elections as there was no other such example. Mr Siddiqui said the Supreme Court, high court, provincial government and the Election Commission of Pakistan had accepted the pre-polling rigging. Recalling the matter of the delimitation, Mr Siddiqui asks, "Who holds the responsibility of doing delimitations? " He also questioned the ECP, saying, "If the electoral watchdog could not manage to hold transparent elections, then what is ECP’s role." Mr Siddiqui vowed, "We will not let anybody loot Karachi like Dubai." 

MQM leader Farooq Sattar said "the PPP had accepted the delimitations and deprived the MQM of 50 seats. He lamented, "today was the day for all the political parties to support us." 

Mustafa Kamal said, "No matter who will be the next Karachi mayor, the masses of Karachi will not get any benefits.