PPP candidates win most UC seats in Karachi by-polls

Pakistan Peoples Party candidates won the majority of 10 vacant seats in the municipal corporation’s by-elections that saw a low voter turnout on Wednesday, as per unofficial results.

According to the unofficial results, PPP candidate Babar Magsi secured 2,493 votes for UC-9 chairman’s seat in Malir Town against his rival Jamat-e-Islami’s candidate Noman Ahmed, who got 528 votes.

The PPP also secured the UC-7 chairman’s seat of Liaquatabad Town, where its candidate Mohammad Waqar got 3,784 votes against the JI’s Saleemullah, who obtained 1,646 votes. JI candidate Ansarullah Khan won the UC-7 Model Town chairman’s seat with 2,967 votes against the PPP’s Imam Bux Domki, who got 1,046 votes.

PPP candidate Karamullah secured 3,616 votes to clinch the seat of the chairman of UC-13 Saddar Town seat against the JI’s Noor Islam, who took 759 votes. PPP candidate Umair Ahmed Khan obtained 1,775 votes for the vice chairman seat of UC-6 Landhi Town against the JI’s Tehseen Khan, who secured 486 votes.

The JI’s Irfan polled 955 votes for the UC-5 vice chairman seat of Yaseenabad, Gulberg Town, against PPP candidate Munib Hasan, who got 591 votes. PPP candidates Asif Khan, Iqrar Hasan, Murtaza Qureshi won general member ward-UC-7 Ward 1 of Ibrahim Hyderi Town, Ward-4 of UC-10 Baldia Town and Ward-1 of UC-7 Korangi Town. JI candidate Irfan Umar won general member ward 4, UC-5 of Manghopir Town.

As many as 168 polling stations were set up for 10 vacant seats of KMC’s different UCs in which there were 295,700 registered voters with 157,600 male and 137,800 female voters.

Minor disruptions

Polling for ten local government union committees (UCs) in Karachi proceeded peacefully on Thursday, with minor disruptions observed at some polling stations. A tense moment unfolded in District South’s UC13 outside the polling station in Gizri when Mayor Murtaza Wahab arrived to cast his vote.

As Wahab spoke to the media, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) supporters chanted slogans against each other. "We have served this constituency through hard work, and we will celebrate here again today," he said.

The by-elections saw a close contest among the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), PPP and PTI candidates, with all three parties raising misconduct allegations. The PTI accused rival parties of using government machinery to influence the election, while JI alleged that their voters were harassed in District Central and other areas.

The PPP also reported that their supporters were prevented from voting at certain polling stations. To facilitate voters, political parties set up polling camps outside various stations. Sindh Election Commissioner Sharifullah visited polling stations across the city, stating that no reports of rigging had been received. Strict security measures were in place, with a heavy police presence at polling sites. Although most polling stations operated smoothly, there were complaints of delayed starts and power outages at some locations. Polling staff at some stations also reported delayed delivery of election materials and food.

The elections included seats for four chairpersons, two vice-chairpersons, and four ward councillors. The hotly contested seats were spread across several districts, including District South UC-3 in Clifton, District Central UC5 in Gulberg, District Central UC7 in Liaquatabad, and District Keamari, District Malir, District West, and District Korangi.

Out of 167 polling stations, 136 were declared highly sensitive, 26 sensitive, and only five as normal. CCTV cameras were installed at highly sensitive stations to ensure security. Wahab also visited a polling station in UC5, Gulberg, where a minor commotion occurred as police stopped a voter from entering the booth with a mobile phone.

Additional police forces arrived to manage the situation, which was quickly brought under control, with a positive atmosphere noted between security personnel and voters. The overall atmosphere remained peaceful although polling staff cited issues like delayed material arrivals, load-shedding, and late meal provision as minor inconveniences during the day.

‘Fake results’

Karachi Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Monem Zafar has said the party will not accept fake results of the local government’s by-elections and will resort to agitation as well as taking the legal route.

Talking to media on Thursday’s by-poll results, he said the JI would not tolerate another ambush on the mandate of Karachiites. Zafar said the Karachiites had voted overwhelmingly for the JI. Unfortunately, he alleged, the Pakistan Peoples Party continued its legacy of “electoral terrorism and used all unfair means to convert its defeat into victory.

He said that the candidates for UC chairmen in Model Town and Liaquatabad had won the elections by majority. However, the governmental machinery, including ROs and DROs, changed the results, he added.

The police also played the role of the B team for the PPP and the Election Commission of Pakistan as usual played the role of a silent spectator despite the fact that it was given several heads-up. The JI will announce its future course of action against the rigging today, Friday.

PTI alleges rigging

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf alleged rigging at different polling stations of city during the by-polls. Karachi PTI President Raja Azhar alleged that in a statement that Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Farooq Awan was present with armed men at Cantonment Board Korangi Creek polling station.

He said the silence of the police and returning officer on the issue was surprising, and that police had become a spectator. He said the Election Commission's decision on police deployment also proved to be a friendly decision for the PPP. He said that despite such incidents coming to light the silence of the Election Commission “is a matter of shame}.