PPP defies predictions as JI stages Karachi comeback

Massive political manoeuvring expected in mayoral election; Sindh election commissioner rejects allegations of rigging

KARACHI/HYDERABAD:

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged the major gainer in the second round of local bodies elections in Sindh, as it grabbed the most number of seats in Karachi and secured a thumping majority in the Hyderabad division, according to results announced by the election commission.

In Karachi, no party emerged clear winner to elect the next mayor of the metropolis, according to the results released by the election commission. There are 246 union committees (UCs) in Karachi, however, election was held in 235 UCs due to the death of 11 candidates. The election of mayor requires 124 votes.

The results showed the PPP won 93 UCs, Jamaat-e-Islami bagged 86 UCs, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) clinched 40. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won in 7, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) 3, Independents 3, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) 2 and Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM) 1.

The results came more than 36 hours after Sunday’s voting and drew allegations of rigging from various parties. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the JI Karachi chief, who himself is a candidate for the mayorship, claimed that the party had won 100 UCs.

"We lodged a protest with the chief minister, election commission against prolonged delay in releasing the results. The Sindh government with its machinery has changed our majority," he said. The JI Amir, Sirajul Haq, said in a statement that the party would protest in major cities.

Nonetheless, the results indicated strong political manoeuvring for the election of mayor, which would now require the making of an alliance between at least two parties among the top three – the PPP, the JI and the PTI. The PPP and PTI both have said that they would negotiate with the JI for a coalition.

The PPP, however, made it clear that it would not negotiate with the PTI for a city-wide alliance. "We will not enter into any dialogue with PTI for securing the Karachi mayor seat but can talk to Jamaat i Islami," said Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, who is also the PPP Karachi President.

The PTI also said that it would join the JI for the election of mayor. “Everything is possible in politics. We will approach the JI for the election of mayor,” said Ali Zaidi, the PTI Sindh President. "We, with Jamaat-e-Islami, can elect the mayor," he added.

Read Karachi LG polls: JI cries foul over results delay

peaking to media, Zaidi alleged that the PTI had won in 70 UCs but the elections were rigged to pave the way for the PPP to elect its mayor. “The election commission officials are also working hand in glove with the PPP government,” he said, adding that they would not let PPP elect its mayor.

So far, the JI has not dropped any hint as to which side it would lean for the mayoral election. “The PPP stole the JI’s mandate,” Hafiz Naeem told a late-night press conference.

“If we don't get the simple majority then will consult the party to make an alliance,” he said.

He strongly criticised the election officials for tampering with the results in favour of the PPP and demanded re-election in at least 10 UCs.

"The results were changed at the offices of the ROs [returning officers]. We will resist it at all the forums," Hafiz Naeem said, adding that they had requested the election commission for re-polling in 10 UCs, where “results are tampered with”.

"We have the forms [11 and 12, which are prepared at the polling stations] of the 10 UCs results, which have been changed. We can prove before election authorities and tribunal,” the JI Karachi chief told reporters, referring to the forms 11 and 12.

Hafiz Naeem identified Orangi Town UCs No 8,7,6,3, Manghopir, Maymar UC 12, Gulshan-e-Iqbal UC 1, Moominabad UC 13, Model Colony UC 8 and Safora Town UC 1 among areas where the final results were changed with adopting delaying tactics in releasing the results.

Backing up the JI Karachi’s contention, the JI Amir Sirajul Haq said in a statement released from the party headquarters in Mansoora, Lahore: “The results of the JI’s polling agents showed that the party was in majority.”

He appealed to the people and the JI workers to hold protests in major cities of the country.

Meanwhile, the PPP, which won majority votes in Malir, Lyari, Keamari, East and South districts, has unveiled three names for the mayoral contest. They are: Syed Najmi Alam, Khalil Hott and Karamullah Waqasi. Party sources said Alam, who defeated PTI's Khurrum Sher Zaman, will be finalised for the mayorship.

However, Ghani, the Sindh labour minister, termed the election free and fair and urged the political opponents to accept the results. “The citizens [of Karachi] have shown confidence in the PPP following the record development work carried out in the last few years,” he said. He appreciated the performance of the JI.

Hyderabad

On Sunday elections were also held in the Hyderabad, where the PPP secured a thumping majority, as the official results poured in slowly. The voting was held in 599 constituencies out of a total of 800 because of return of some candidates uncontested and deaths of some candidates.

By around Monday night, results of 116 union committees (UCs) of 160-strong Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), each consisting of four wards, were released. The PPP bagged 58 UCs, including 15 uncontested. The PTI won 39, followed by 10 independents and one each to the JI and the TLP.

In the rural districts, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) also rejected the electoral process. According to media reports the GDA also blamed the election officials, for the alleged rigging in the election and violation of the code of conduct by the PPP.

However, the Sindh Election Commissioner Ijaz Anwar Chauhan applauded the services of election staff and flouted the allegations of rigging. "The elections were held in peaceful manners. We have not seen such a fair atmosphere in the last 30 years, Chauhan said.

“We will probe if someone comes up with evidence about the rigging," he added. Chauhan explained that it took the election commission 36 hours to finalise the results of 235 UCs. He went out to say that on average the turnout remained 15 to 20% of the total registered votes.