No party can claim KMC boss

No single party could win simple majority in the just concluded local bodies’ election in the metropolitan city. Wheeling and dealing has started by political parties, especially Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, for the position of mayor. Strong political opponents of the past appear to be burying their differences to make new political bedfellows.

According to the current situation, the total strength of the house of Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) will be 356 after distribution of the reserved seats. Simple majority, or 179 votes, will be required for the election of mayor and his deputy.

The results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) shows the PPP will have 142 members in the house after getting six reserved seats. If other parties, including PML-N, JUI-F, TLP, Mohajir Qaumi Movement, and Independents, also join hands with the PPP, their combined strength would be 163, still six short of the magic number. The PML-N has 9 seats, JUI-F 4, TLP 3, Mohajir Qaumi Movement 1 and Independents have four seats in the house.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which has emerged as the second biggest party in the Karachi LB elections, will have 133 members in the house after getting the reserved seats. If Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which will have 60 members in the house after securing reserved seats, decides to join hands with Jamaat, then their combined strength would be 193, which is well above the magical number. This means these two parties can easily get their mayor and deputy mayor elected.

It remains to be seen which party Jamaat will join hands with. The Jamaat-PPP relations have been strained since the allegations of organised rigging in the Karachi LB elections by Sindh’s ruling party have emerged. There are reports that the PPP might reach out to the PTI if the top leadership approves, but political experts say chances of a PPP-PTI alliances are thin.

Political experts believe a Jamaat-PTI alliance could be the most probable outcome in the current situation as both are convinced that the PPP has massively rigged the election to steal their mandate. If the two parties start negotiating for an alliance, the experts think consensus on mayoral position would elude as both would want to keep the important position.

Coming to the party position in towns, Chanesar Town was previously with Jamaat which had 4 seats, but after losing one, the PPP would grab the Town Chairman as its seats have gone up from three to four. Similarly, in eight union committees of Chanesar Town, Jamaat has three and PTI has one UC.

In Sohrab Goth Town, the PPP clinched six out of eight seats, while the PTI could win only two. So, the Town Chairman will be from PPP. In Safoora Goth Town, the PPP has two seats after losing one and Jamaat has won six seats. In the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Jamaat won six while the PPP grabbed two union committees. So, the situation is clear there.

In the Jinnah Town, Jamaat won seven, while PPP clinched four seats, which means the Town Chairman will be from Jamaat. In Manghopir Town, the PPP is leading with nine seats. The PTI won three, Jamaat two and JUI-f two. In Orangi Town, the PPP won six seats, Jamaat two and the PTI one, while election of Chairman and Vice Chairman was not held in two union committees.

In Mominabad Town, the PTI is in position to elect its Town Chairman as it has grabbed five seats, while its rival PPP won two and Jamaat one seat. The PPP swept Lyari Town by winning 11 out of 12 seats, while the PTI grabbed one seat. Election did not take place on one seat following the death of a candidate.

The PTI won eight out of total 11 seats in Saddar Town. The PPP trailed behind with four seats, while TLP grabbed one seat. This means Town Chairman and Deputy Chairman will be from Imran Khan’s party.

The situation is very interesting in Korangi Town, where the PPP and Jamaat won three seats each, while two seats went to PTI, and one each to PML-N and TLP. Votes of PTI and TLP would help Jamaat win Town Chairman position.

Jamaat swept Landhi Town with nine seats. So, there is no ambiguity as to who will get Chairman and Deputy Chairman. In Model Colony Town, Jamaat leads with six seats, while one seat each went to PTI and an independent candidate. In Shah Faisal Town, the PTI won four seats, Jamaat two and PML-N one.

All three towns of District Malir will go to the PPP. In Gadap Town, the PPP won eight while Jamaat clinched one seat. In Ibrahim Hyderi Town, the PPP got six, PTI two and Jamaat, PML-N and Independents one each. In Malir Town, the PPP grabbed six seats while the PTI won two and Jamaat and PML-N one each.

In District Keamari, the PPP has a literal walkover. In Morero Mir Bahar Town, the PPP won all seven of the eight seats on which elections were held. It won eight out of 13 seats in Baldia Town, followed by the PML-N with two seats, and PTI and JUI with one each.

In five towns of District Central, no one could challenge Jamaat which will have its Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen in all these towns.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2023.