LG by-polls held in tense atmosphere

The first stage of local bodies elections in Sindh was completed on Sunday after the by-elections on 63 seats of different categories in 24 districts of Sindh including 11 seats of UC chairman and vice chairman and 15 ward members of Karachi. According to the unofficial results so far available Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won seven seats and Jamaat-e-Islami bagged four seats of chairman and vice chairman of UCs indicating that no single party can now bring in mayor of its choice.

Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaaf could not get any seat of Chairman Vice Chairman. For ward councilor seats, PPP bagged five, Jamaat-e-Islami two, Tehreek-e-Insaf and Muslim League (N) won one seat each as per unofficial results. Meanwhile in the rest of the districts of Sindh, PPP won a decisive lead in 52 seats of different categories.

Following the by-elections the number of seats of PPP is 96, JI 86, PTI 42, PML-N seven, JUI three and TLP one in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, while the results of eight seats have been withheld.

Tensions spike

Polling commenced at 8am and continued without interruption until 5pm, with over 7,000 police personnel providing security.

However, there were incidents of tension and unrest at several polling stations throughout the day. In the West district UC2 polling station number 18, workers from different political parties confronted each other, resulting in a clash where stones were thrown and the gate of the polling station was broken. Loud slogans were also raised within the polling station premises. Two polling stations in South Lyari Town UC2 also experienced disturbances, with workers from different political parties involved in a scuffle. Similarly, at polling station No33 of UC 13 in Rashidabad, New Karachi, there was tension between workers from Jamaat-e-Islami and PPP. In North Nazimabad, workers from different political parties exchanged fisticuffs and the situation remained tense at two polling stations in Korangi as well.

By-polls in Sindh

Across Sindh, elections were scheduled for 93 seats in various categories, but 27 candidates were elected unopposed, and three candidates did not submit their forms. The contested seats included Sanghar, Matiari, Tindwalayar, and Jamshoro (1 each), Ghotki (2), Nowshero Feroze (3), Sukkur (2), Dadu (3), Khairpur (2), Hyderabad (10), Badin (2), Sajawal (2), and Thatta (3). Out of the total 93 seats, PPP won 65 seats, while independent candidates won six seats, Jamaate-Islami secured 10, PTI won 4, and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) won 1 seat.

LG by-polls see minor clashes

The local government elections on five seats of chairmen and vice chairmen of Union Committees of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) and General Member Wards were held on Sunday, amid exchange of hot words and stealing of the ballot books in the polling stations of a UC.

A less than moderate turnout was witnessed as the people voted to elect the chairmen and vice chairmen of five UCs and general members of as many wards. Though the polling process continued peacefully in most of the polling stations, wrangling between the workers of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf occurred in the polling stations of UC 119. The District Election Commissioner Yousuf Majeedano said the polling staff was also manhandled. He claimed that nine ballot books were also stolen after which the voting process was stopped in three polling stations. He told that they will register FIR against the people involved in the situation and that action will also be taken against the political party whose workers are found responsible. Meanwhile, according to the unofficial results of the UC numbers 5, 17, 118 and 137, two seats have gone to the PPP and one each to PTI and independent candidates.

The PPP suffered a setback in UC 17 where independent candidates Muhammad Aslam and Rashid Hameed defeated PPP’s Muhammad Usman Malik and Dildar Malik. The PTI’s candidates emerged victorious in the UC 118 while the UC numbers 5 and 137 went to the PPP. The PPP had secured 96 seats of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of UCs out of 153 seats on which the LG elections were conducted on January 15. The PTI had won 41 seats. The HMC comprises 160 UCs. The election could not be held on five seats of chairmen and vice chairmen because of deaths of the candidates. The violence during the polling on January 15 caused cancellation of the voting process in two other UCs. The LG elections on some leftover seats of UCs and wards were also held in Jamshoro, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Dadu, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, Sanghar and other districts.