Next mayor of Karachi will be a jiyala, says Bilawal

PPP chief sets aside speculations saying local body elections will take place on January 15

Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed optimism that a jiyala – a term politically associated with PPP stalwarts – will become mayor of  Karachi in the next month’s local body elections due to the performance of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and hard work of party workers.

“That jiyala is even present in this gathering… we have delivered on our promises and never took a U-turn,” he said while addressing the party workers in Karachi on Saturday.

براہ راست دیکھئے پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کراچی کے کارکنان سے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی ملاقات کے حوالے سے تقریب https://t.co/MgozMuPaUx

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 31, 2022

Setting aside the reports that second phase of local body elections in Sindh are likely to be postponed yet again, Bilawal said the LG polls will be held on their scheduled date (January 15) as people are fed up with repeated postponements. “Now their wait is over because municipal elections will be held in Karachi on January 15, 2023.”

Bilawal said he had asked Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to thwart all conspiracies and hold local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad on time “because people are worried about their problems due to absence of local representatives”.

The PPP chief said the people of Karachi witnessed how quickly development work was carried out in the metropolis under his party’s administrator.

“The doors of the local body representatives were opened for the citizens. A world record has been set for the delay of the local body elections in Karachi,” he added.

Also read: Karachi, Hyderabad LG polls in doldrum again

Bilawal said PPP has fielded candidates belonging to all nationalities in all constituencies of the metropolis for the local government elections.

“The entire Karachi is waiting for the elections and the candidates are tired of campaigning. The people in Karachi and Hyderabad are in desperate need of local body system.”

He said that they have no fear of winning or losing, and will accept the results no matter what.

Bilawal also administered oath to the LG candidates while directing the Sindh chief minister that the doors of the CM House will remain opened for the representatives of the local bodies after the polls as well.

“Murad Ali Shah as a jiyala and as the chief minister will work together with the bureaucracy of the city to solve the problems of the citizens,” the PPP chief added.