PPP needs to accept defeat in LG election: JI chief

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said on Monday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ought to explain its failure to hold polls in the remaining 11 union councils (UCs) of Karachi even after almost two months since local government polls were held in the city.

Speaking at the press conference held at JI headquarters, Siraj said that the Pakistan People Party (PPP) needs to accept its defeat in the local government elections held in Karachi.

In a response aimed at the Sindh chief minister, who had said a day earlier that PPP would get the mayor's seat, he said that JI would form the local government in Karachi while terming Murad Ali Shah's statement 'wishful thinking'.

He maintained that the JI has already won 358 wards but the PPP leadership was adamant to install a mayor loyal to the PPP, while calling the PPP stance illogical.

The JI leader said that the ECP was going to conduct a hearing of a case pertaining to Karachi on March 14.

He also accused the provincial government of embezzlement in funds meant for the flood-hit while urging the chief justice to take suo motu over irregularities.

Haq also demanded of the government and those in the corridors of power to release Maulana Hidayatur Rehman and provide justice to the people of Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2023.