A negligible turnout, coupled with allegations of ballot stuffing and excesses at some places, marked the local bodies’ elections in 16 districts of Sindh, including Karachi and Hyderabad, on Sunday. However, the most appreciated aspect was that the law and order situation remained under control, and notwithstanding a few barbs and scuffles, no untoward incident was reported. MQM’s boycott at the eleventh hour sent a wave of fear across the biggest metropolitan city, and Karachiites apparently preferred to stay indoors to watch the ballot on TV in dropping windy temperatures. But the political heat was widely evident as JI, PTI and PPP tried to make a visible presence in as many as 8,876 polling stations, but had to bite the dust as people exhibited a lacklustre attitude. Around eight million voters were supposed to exercise their adult franchise to elect their representatives from among 17,863 candidates.
The LB polls were conducted after a delay of 32 months, and amid a high drama of legitimacy, as MQM and the Sindh government quarrelled over delimitations. Both the ruling allies kept on playing to the gallery by off and on postponing the vote to serve their petty interests. But the Election Commission refused to succumb to the pressure of any further delays and executive notifications. Days before the LB polls, the political stage went hostage to the ensuing row between the federation-ruling PDM allies, as a resurgent MQM demanded fresh delimitation of constituencies, with a tactical threat to pull out of the government. But behind the curtain Machiavellian gestures prevailed, and MQM’s boycott has left behind a sour taste for Karachiites, who longed to see an effective local tier government to address their woes.
Irrespective of the outcome, there are lessons that political parties should go back to learn as the country gears for general elections. The parties have failed to imbibe enthusiasm and public trust, and the weak turnout is a testimony. Likewise, authorities including the electoral watchdog and law-enforcement must rewrite a strong SOP to ensure writ of state and the law, and to quell shenanigans.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2023.
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