KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) nominee Waseem Akhtar has been elected Mayor and Arshad Vohra as Deputy Mayor Karachi, according to unofficial results.
According to unofficial results, a total of 295 votes were casted in the house of 308 Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. Waseem Akhtar and Arshad Vohra secured over 190 votes.
A political party requires 155 votes to get its candidate elected for the mayor office.
Karachi Ittehad failed to get its mayor and deputy mayor elected.
Speaking to media, Waseem Akhtar said, “I am not MQM’s Mayor but the Mayor of Karachi.”
Newly-elect mayor said that he doesn’t want to discuss the grievances of the past and just wants to move forward for the betterment of the citizens.
Waseem said that all political parties would be taken on board for the development of the city.
He requested the Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to give adequate powers to municipal representatives and also guide them.
The Karachi Mayor also urged DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar to work together as people have given them mandate for the betterment of Karachi.
He also applauded the sacrifices of Rangers for restoring peace.
Earlier, Waseem Akhtar, who was arrested last month on suspicion of aiding alleged militants, arrived in an armoured police vehicle at the British-era Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building to cast his vote in the final round of elections that has his party in an unassailable lead.
The imprisoned politician will run the teeming metropolis via "video link" from his prison cell, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
"He will open an office in jail and via video link he will conduct council sessions," Mahfooz Yar Khan, Akhtar's lawyer, told reporters outside the council building as his client voted inside. "He can run Karachi via video link for five years."
Akhtar was arrested on July 19 on suspicion of sheltering and providing medical treatment to alleged militants and criminals. He also faces earlier charges of inciting riots.
MQM leaders, former MNA Syed Tayyab Hussain won the slot of Hyderabad mayor, and Sohail Mashhadi, a former MPA, the slot of deputy mayor Hyderabad.
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