LG elections: PPP leading, JI, PTI slams delay in results

• LG polls were held in Karachi and Hyderabad Division
• There were reports of clashes, mismanagement and rigging
• Strict security measures were enforced

KARACHI: The results of the second phase of local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad are still pending even after the passage of more than 15 hours and the political parties including Jamat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been claiming that the results are being rigged.

As per details, the LG polls held in Karachi and Hyderabad yesterday (Sunday) – along with eight other districts of Sindh – were supposed to start at 8:00 am sharp but at many polling stations, the process kicked off late and continued till 5:00 pm.

The results that were supposed to be out within a few hours of the end of polling, didn’t surface till Monday morning which has been leading to conspiracies regarding the influence of PPP in results.

Despite clear directions from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the results have not been completed till this morning.

Jamaat-i-Islami – which has been running in the race along with PTI and PPP – slammed the delay in announcing the results of the Local Government (LG) elections in Karachi, saying it was tantamount to rigging.

Addressing a hurriedly called press conference, Hafiz Naeem alleged that results were deliberately being delayed. He instructed party supporters to surround polling stations across the city to demand the early release of election results.

Notably, according to unofficial results, PPP is leading the race in Karachi and Hyderabad. It is being followed in a close contest between PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami, while the MQM has boycotted the polls and rejected the results.

LG Polls

The long-awaited Local Government (LG) elections were held in Karachi, Hyderabad and eight other districts of Sindh, BOL News reported.

The voter turnout was not high while there were reports of clashes and allegations of rigging and mismanagement at various polling stations.

The main contest was between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Jamaat-e-Islami amid the boycott by the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).

As per the unofficial and unconfirmed results, the PPP is leading in Hyderabad, Karachi and multiple other districts of Sindh.

In Karachi as yet, the PPP secured victories on 22 seats, JI on 17 and PTI on 12 out of total 246 UCs. Meanwhile, JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem claimed that the JI had won more than 100 seats in the megalopolis.

In Hyderabad so far, the PPP won on 46 out of 160 seats, PTI on 16, JI on one and three independent candidates in separate UCs.

Over 3.4 million people exercised their right to elect the local government. The polling took place in seven districts of Karachi and 9 districts including Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Thatta, and Sujawal.

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As many as 6774 candidates were contesting for 1675 seats of chairmen, vice chairmen of union councils/ union committees, and the general wards.

Some 2551 candidates were contesting for 620 seats in Hyderabad, 1436 for 409 seats in Dadu, 839 for 161 seats in Jamshoro, 715 for 185 seats in Matiari, and 452 for 129 seats in Tando Muhammad Khan.

Among the contestants, 3,525 contested the election for the seats of general members of wards, 1190 for chairmen and vice chairmen of UCs of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) and the district council, 974 for seats in Municipal Committees and 597 for the seats in Town Committees.

Strict security measures were put in place to ensure transparency. According to reports, police have deployed 52,591 officers to perform security duties in the city. This includes 35,360 personnel of Karachi Police while 17,231 have been brought from other districts of Sindh.

Ministry of Interior ordered deployment of Frontier Constabulary (FC) troops outside all highly sensitive and sensitive polling stations during the polls.

The armed forces refused to arrange static deployment at various polling stations.  Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have warned of terror threat during the polls.

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