In light of previous accounts and given the deteriorating security situation in the city, strict security measures were in place on Sunday. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) ended up with all spoils of a partial re-run of the May 11 polls in 43 polling stations of NA 250 Karachi, picking up both a National Assembly seat and two provincial assembly seats.
In an oft-debated and much-discussed rematch, PTI’s Arif Alvi secured the seat with 77,659 votes while Khushbakht Shujaat of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) came in second with 30,365 votes, according to the unofficial results.
NA-250 gained notoriety on May 11, when reports of discrepancies and mismanagement on the part of the election commission resulted in long queues and disheartened voters. Almost all political parties, including MQM, PTI, PPP and JI, reacted sharply to images of distraught voters by lodging different complaints against each other.
After conceding their inability to manage elections on NA-250, in a transparent and timely manner, the election commission had announced to hold re-polling on 43 affected polling stations on May 19.
However, the MQM had rejected the announcement by calling for re-polling at all polling stations of the constituency, while PTI and JI had made calls for re-polling in all constituencies of the city.
Amidst the allegations and counter allegations, the PPP, MQM and Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen boycotted the re-polling, providing the PTI with a clear lead on Sunday.
It may be mentioned here that after re-polling on Sunday the returning officer and district returning officer, along with presiding officers of the constituency, combined the results of the re-polls with the results of May 11 and submitted the final consolidated figures to the commission.
In light of previous accounts and given the deteriorating security situation in the city, strict security measures were in place on Sunday. In addition, foolproof mechanism to ensure polling on time was also ensured. However, the election commission reported a low turnout on the polling day, with only 38% average voter turnout, compared to an average voter turnout of nearly 60% on May 11.
The results for both provincial assembly seats PS 113 and PS 112 followed the trend set by Alvi on NA 250, with PTI candidates winning both the seats with a healthy victory margin. On PS 113, PTI candidate Samar Ali Khan secured 38,247 votes against Saleem Zia of PML-N, who bagged 11,753 votes. Similarly, PTI’s Khurram Sher Zaman bagged 33,560 votes compared to his contender Hafiz Muhammad Sohail of the MQM, who came in second with 22,973 votes.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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Fakhru bhai & Cheif Justice has made sure that PML N comes in Power. Where are those journalists who know that Sharif's are corrupt. ?
Why can't PTI win?
@Ali S: That si exactly what i said and I came across plenty of pushcart vendors, rickshaw drivers and cyclists with PTI flags to know that this goes far beyond the burger class.
Recounting and resulting in winning position of PTI reveals rigging has been commited and preplanned conspiracy has also been hatched to keep the PTI out of political arena.
As shown by the media cams,police was also involved in rigging acts,they were shown with others stemping and polling without any fear.
On the other hand authority concerned,has admitted that rigging has been committed that is absolutely illegal act.
Under the circumstances,PTI is deserved to hear its demands regarding the repolling and re counting.
@powerpoint even if u take out 17000 votes PTI got in repolling,the difference was 30000 votes.How MQM could have won NA-250.Any reply based on statistics of votes polled?
The turnout wasn't more than 20%. 38% is way over-exaggerated
@Ali S, begg to differ dude, I wouldnt call North Nazimabad a pure middle class area, its on the threshold of middleclass and upper class, if not completely in the upper class area.
@MAD:
PTI bagged over 54,000 votes from my constituency NA-245 (a MQM stronghold), which consists mostly of middle-class neighbourhoods of North Nazimabad along with many working class areas. Though it still lost (everyone knows why since MQM is very strong in this area), but according to ECP's website, in Karachi PTI got the most votes from NA-245, which is a very middle-class area, not 'posh' at all.
I also travel frequently in public transport and saw a PTI cap hanging besides the driver's seat on a minibus, so it's definitely not just 'burgers' who support PTI unlike the media wants you to believe.
It ain't a win when there are no competitors. PTI really sounded like a cry baby given a lollipop after the affairs of last week. But well all they wanted was to get into the assembly. Well good luck and try to do a better job then your predecessors!
It is too early for PTI to gloat over this hollow, tainted and pyrrhic win i.e. if it is ever declared as a win officially. We are waiting for MQM to officially lodge a complaint against this repolling at all legal avenues available. If justice would indeed be blind, there is no way that the current result can be upheld, especially, when the so called winner has himself admitted handling the ballot boxes himself. He should in fact be tried for this openly admitted crime.
On the other hand, the mystery of the 51,000 voters figure appearing suddenly from the 11th May election also needs to be investigated. The media silence on this figure is astounding.
It has now become all the more imperative that the current results are annulled and polling should be conducted on the whole of NA 250. If PTI is really convinced that it has popular support in this constituency, it should not have and should not oppose this repolling. If any thing, a win by them in the overall constituency will only strengthen their appeal for repolling in other constituencies.
In any case, PTI should remember that an entry into Karachi's political scene, tainted at birth, has robbed them of any moral victory they could ever claim. Couple this with the open kowtowing by its leader to Taliban and Taliban's protective cover provided to them in KPK elections, and the party has lost any charm it once held for the liberal, progressive youth of Karachi. MQM certainly has its shortcoming but alas, PTI has proven to be no better. MQM on the other hand remain a solidly native party and its appeal would, therefore, rise and ebb, but never disappear.
There is no division in society. PTI got votes from Hijrat Colony, Quyyumabad, Neelum Colony, Gizri Village, Punjab Colony, Hazara Colony. I dont think there are many so called burgers living there. There is no class divide, it is being made to look like that. Even in other areas of the city Ghousia Colony in NA-252, Orangabad in NA-245, parts of Lyari and Baldia, Shireen Jinnah Colony. PTI got lots of votes from there. PSD-93 is a constituency located in SITE Karachi, Hafeezuddin the PTI Sindh Secretary general won the seat from there. I repeat there is no class divide in Karachi. Millionaires and paupers, professionals and tea boys, Rickshaw drivers and push cart vendors voted for PTI. So instead of claiming a class divide maybe those who didnt win and are surprised at the number of votes PTI got should go back to the drawing board and rethink their strategy.
More division in the society I don't like it but like win of PTI
And then they say people didn't vote for PTI on May 11th ! :)