LG polls: Vote count under way as polling comes to a close in Karachi, Punjab

All eyes on PML-N as Punjab also heads for third phase of polls

The counting of votes is now under way as the final phase of the  local bodies' elections have come to a close in Karachi and Punjab.

The third and final phase of local government elections in 12 districts of Punjab and six of Sindh started at 7:30 am and culminated at around 5:30 pm without any break.



MQM claims victory in five UCs in Landhi

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) claimed on Saturday that despite all the clashes in Landhi, the party has won five Union Councils out of seven.

The party also claims that their candidate has defeated Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman in LG polls.

MQM leaders preparing for post-election celebrations. PHOTO: RABIA ALI/ EXPRESS



CEC hails ECP for holding successful LG Polls in Sindh, Punjab

Almost an hour after voting for the third and final phase of local government elections completed, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Sardar Raza Saturday said that the exercise was bigger in scale and was conducted better than previous polls due to improved arrangements and training of the staff.

Addressing a press conference at ECP headquarters, CEC said it was an honour for him that the Election Commission of Pakistan has completed another constitutional obligation by holding the final phase of LG polls in Punjab and Sindh.

According to details, polling was held in 83,893 constituencies of 95 districts of the country in which 82,840,135 voters exercised their right and elected (directly) 305,431 candidates all across the country.



Eight jailed for disrupting election process in Karachi

Rangers have arrested eight people in Karachi for disrupting the election process.

According to a statement released by the Pakistan Rangers Sindh, Rangers have arrested eight people over bogus voting and disrupting the election process.

Two Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers were arrested from Pak-Kuwait School in Landhi for attempting to snatch ballot papers and stamp from the presiding officers.

Three Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi’s (MQM-H) activists were also arrested from the Landhi area for disrupting the polling process while two of Qaumi Ittehad Party workers also on the similar charges.

A worker of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was also arrested from the Natha Khan area of the city for violating the code of conduct.

Using their magisterial authority, Rangers have awarded one month’s sentence to all eight accused.



One killed, two injured in Rawalpindi

At least one person was killed and two others injured in a clash during the LG polls in the Dhamial area of Rawalpindi.

The deceased was identified as Shoaib Iqbal Raja, cousin of an independent candidate for the UC Chairman Moeen Sultan Raja.

Eyewitnesses say Raja was killed and two others injured when a local party leader shot several fires during the clash near a women’s polling booth in the area.



Voters protesting

Voters in the Malir district are protesting due to lack of polling staff. Voters have been standing in long queues waiting to cast their votes, however, many are now leaving without casting their votes.

“There are two thousands votes registered in this polling station, but only three polling personnel including presiding officer, assistant presiding officer and a peon are posted here,” Ali Akbar Jokhio says.

There are four booths in the polling stations of union councils Chohar and Gujjro, each which must be attended by a presiding officer. However, all four booths are being handled by one official, our correspondent Hafeez Tunio reports.

Union councils have seen only a 20 to 30 per cent turn out due to lack of security measures. Elections in Rawalpindi postponed 

Polling in Rawalpindi's UC-16 have been postponed for 15 days, our correspondent Azam Khan reports. Sohail Ishtiaq is the only minority candidate contesting in the district.



MQM, PPP clash

Reports of a firing incident at UC-23 in North Nazimabad have surfaced. However, DIG West confirms that the situation is under control, according to our correspondent Faraz Khan.





Political parties violate LB election code of conduct

In District West, Karachi, political parties are providing free pick and drop service to voters, from their homes to polling stations, our correspondent Naeem Sahoutra reports. 

Jamat-e-Islami alleges rigging 

Presiding officer of UC-26 polling station number three has handed over ballot papers to MQM workers, our correspondent Faraz Khan reports.

Jamat-e-Islami's Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman says MQM workers in District Karachi East have started rigging and law enforcement agencies should look into this immediately.

"MQM workers are taking ballot papers from voters and stamping them. Presiding officer and assistant presiding officer are acting like MQM workers," he says.

Meanwhile, in Nazimabad, polling agents have been pushed outside UC-45 and the voter list has been snatched from them. Agents have been threatened of seroius consequences. The presiding officer has started stamping the ballot papers.PPP's Sherry Rehman casts vote in Karachi

Voting today in Karachi. #JeetKaNishanTEER pic.twitter.com/iUzPXu5XBY

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) December 5, 2015

Christian voters face difficulty in Karachi

Due to lack of polling staff at Ward 1, UC-20 in Pahar Gunj locality of District West, Christian voters face difficulty during polling, our correspondent Naeem Sahoutra reports.

Meanwhile, IGP Sindh Ghulam Hyder Jamali is visiting different polling stations in the city and says no untoward incident has occurred thus far.



"I will give credit to all including election commission staff, law enforcers and particularly citizens of Karachi," he says, according to our correspondent Faraz Khan.

Polling suspended in Orangi, Karachi

Following clashes at a polling station in Karachi's Orangi, polling has been temporarily suspended.





At least seven MQM workers injured in clashes in Karachi

MQM claims at least seven party workers have been injured in clashes with MQM Haqiqi in Karachi's Korangi area. "At least 30 MQM workers, including women, have been injured in clashes since this morning," MQM leader Farooq Sattar says and has urged all injured workers to gather in party sector office in Landhi, our correspondent Zubair Ashraf reports.

Fifteen polling stations in Landhi are under Mohajir Qaumi Movement and MQM polling agents are not being allowed to sit there, he adds.

Further, MQM's Nasreen Jalil says she is writing a letter to provincial election commissions to postpone elections in troubling polling stations, our correspondent Zubair Ashraf reports.Tweeting and polling both underway

#JeetKaNishanTEER ✌#VoteForPPP #PPP pic.twitter.com/eKQoqPmrKg

— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) December 5, 2015

Rangers deployed inside to help boost confidence of voters #MyVoteforPTI @ArifAlvi pic.twitter.com/Xxow3i3u0t

— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) December 5, 2015

Good Luck to @AliHZaidiPTI, Imran Ismail, Firdous Naqvi & all PTI candidates braving the LG battle in Khi for Naya Pakistan. #MyVoteforPTI

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 5, 2015

Want to get rid of bhata khors, mafias in Khi then vote for PTI and liberate Karachi #MyVoteforPTI

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 4, 2015

#MyVoteforPTI Fate of Khi lies in voters' hands today. If you want to get rid of bhatta khors, mafias & corruption cast your vote for PTI

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 5, 2015

#MyVoteforPTI If you want change for the better cast your vote for Balla. If you want to get rid of corruption, injustice & mafias vote PTI.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 5, 2015

https://twitter.com/shaiderhrizvi/status/673020044389908480

https://twitter.com/funtasktick/status/673030669388353538

We are the symbol of women empowerment #KarachiVotesForMQM #Vote4Kite

— koi nahi (@mqmtx) December 5, 2015

Clashes between party workers

Clashes have erupted between Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and MQM workers. Five persons affiliated with JI have been arrested in Shamsi Colony, our correspondent Faraz Khan reports.

Meanwhile, in Lyari, a heavy contingency of police and Rangers has gathered to ensure safety as polling underway.Rangers take action

As clashes erupt between PTI and ANP workers, Rangers resort to baton-charge in Karachi's Lyari area at polling station 7, UC-6.

Meanwhile, Rangers have apprehended three persons portraying themselves as polling staff near Karachi's Nishtar Park.

Preparations underway

Election workers carry material to polling station ahead of polling in Multan district.

Main contest likely between MQM and PTI-JI alliance

The third and final phase of Sindh’s local government elections is underway in Karachi, bringing to conclusion an exercise that is being conducted in the province after a gap of almost 10 years. Read more here.

Will bats, inkpots and scales leave tigers black and blue?

The ruling PML-N seems to have a solid footing ahead of today’s local government elections in the district, but opposition parties feel they can still win a majority. PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami and Sheikh Rashid’s Awami Muslim League have allied to knock over the PML-N. Read more here.

Largest ever force safeguards Karachi's voters today

The city votes for its local government today. As the citizens make their way to the polling stations, they will be watched over by the largest contingent of law enforcers ever deployed in the city at a given time. Read more here.

All eyes on PML-N as Punjab heads for third phase

Having swept most of the seats in the first two rounds of the local government elections in Punjab, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will be looking to complete its ‘hat-trick’ in the third round of polls today. Read more here.

Over 40,000 govt employees will not be able to cast votes  

More than 40,000 government employees engaged in election duties in Karachi will not be able to cast their votes on Saturday. Read more here.

Final preparations: Dispensaries converted into polling stations for LG elections

While many schools, colleges and universities have been transformed into polling stations for the local government elections in Karachi, the Election Commission of Pakistan has also converted more than 25 dispensaries across the city into polling stations to cater to the voters in different councils. Read more here.

'Criminals' for chairmen

Nearly 29 of the candidates for the seats of chairman, vice chairmen and councillors in Karachi are nominated in different FIRs. Two of them belong to the MQM, five from the PPP, four from the PML-N, three from the PTI, one each from PAT and JI, while the remaining are independent candidates.

According to a police report, criminal cases, including murder FIRs, are registered against these 29 candidates. "Only naming the cnadidates in the FIR is not an issue unless they are convicted or wanted by the court or police," justified Tanvir Zaki, provincial election commission while speaking to The Express Tribune.

How to cast your vote on Saturday

Polling at all stations across the city will being at 7:30am on Saturday and end at 5:30pm. Here are eight steps that break down the voting process.