PPP seizes coveted Karachi mayor slot

Wahab, Murad elected mayor, deputy mayor, respectively; JI rejects election, announces Black Day

KARACHI:

In a significant achievement, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidates Murtaza Wahab and Salman Abdullah Murad have emerged victorious in the mayorship and deputy mayorship elections of Karachi.

The duo secured a total of 173 votes, marking a historic moment for the PPP as they attain these positions in Karachi for the first time. The official notification is scheduled to be issued today, formally confirming their success.

The mayoral candidate from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, and the deputy mayor candidate, Saifuddin, received 160 votes. However, the absence of 31 members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and one member from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) prevented Jamaat-e-Islami from securing victory.

PTI’s Firdous Shamim Naqvi did not cast his vote as he opted to retain his Sindh Assembly seat. The returning officer, Nazar Abbas, officially declared the success of the mayor and deputy mayor, with the formal notification to follow on Friday.

In addition to the mayorship, the PPP has also secured victories in 13 out of 25 positions for Town Municipal Corporation chairman and vice chairman in Karachi. JI candidates emerged victorious in nine towns, while PTI candidates won in three. The chairman's seat in Mominabad was determined through a lottery draw.

The polling station for the mayor and deputy mayor elections was set up at the Arts Council's auditorium, open from 9 am to 5 pm. JI members arrived first, with some PTI members joining them. The PPP members, accompanied by Wahab, arrived in a bus that included Saeed Ghani and Nisar Khuhro. The polling process began at 11:00 a.m., preceded by a half-hour grace period.

Read Who will be the mayor of Karachi?

The voting process proceeded alphabetically, starting with Wahab as the PPP candidate. Supporters raised their hands in favor, and their votes were recorded. Wahab received a total of 173 votes, consisting of 155 PPP members, 14 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members, and four Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) members. The process was repeated for JI candidate Rehman, who obtained 160 votes.

Despite JI having 130 members in the city council and a total alliance voter count of 192, including 62 PTI seats, the absence of 31 PTI members prevented Rehman from securing victory. Naqvi's vote was not counted as he chose to remain a member of the Sindh Assembly, and one TLP member was also absent. Two arrested members of PTI were brought to the polling station under custody. Out of 366 members, 333 attended the election of the mayor and deputy mayor.

The returning officer, Abbas, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the polling process and commended Wahab and Rehman for their efforts in ensuring the attendance of arrested members. District Election Commissioner South Azra Mahesar and Election Officer Arun Kumar were also present during the event.

It is worth noting that the PPP also secured the chairman and vice-chairman positions in various towns, including Lyari, Gadap, Malir, Ibrahim Hydari, Manghopir, Orangi, Baldia, Morero Mir Bahr, Maripur, Chinesar, Safora, Sohrab Goth, and Korangi Town, some of which were won without opposition.

Meanwhile, JI emerged victorious in Landhi, Model Colony, North Nazimabad, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, New Karachi, Nazimabad, Gulshan Iqbal, and Jinnah Town, while Tehreek-e-Insaf won in Sadar, Shah Faisal, and Mominabad Town, where the chairmanship was determined by a lottery draw. Notably, Farhan Ghani, the brother of Sindh Minister of Labour and Manpower Saeed Ghani, was elected as the chairman of Chanesar Town.

JI to observe ‘Black Day’

In response to the election results, JI has rejected them, claiming "unconstitutional and undemocratic conduct" by the PPP government in Sindh.

The party argues that despite court orders, the elected UC chairmen affiliated with the PTI, which supported JI, were not allowed to participate, leading to their dissatisfaction with the electoral process.

During a media address, Rehman, the Karachi chief of JI, announced that the party would observe a "Black Day" nationwide in protest of the situation. They plan to hold a demonstration on Shahra-e-Quaideen and will announce their future course of action on June 16.

Expressing disappointment, Rehman referred to June 15, 2023, as the worst day in the country's democratic history. He accused the PPP of undermining democracy by disregarding the mandate of Karachi's residents through the misuse of state machinery and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Rehman emphasised that all 130 UC chairmen affiliated with JI participated in the mayoral elections, while 31 elected representatives from the PTI, including two previously abducted women, were not allowed to participate despite court orders. He demanded that the authorities declare the polls null and void and establish a new schedule for the mayoral elections to ensure free, fair, and impartial voting conditions.

Read more PPP’s mayor to serve Karachi in the best possible way: Ghani

The Karachi chief of the party said that the PPP has not won but rather temporarily "occupied" the city council. He asserted that JI would reclaim its mandate through democratic, constitutional, and legal means.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated Wahab on securing the seat of Karachi’s mayor and said all elected representatives of PPP, including Wahab and Salman Abdullah Murad, now have heavy responsibilities on their shoulders.

The foreign minister added that this success is the result of the long struggle and sacrifices of the people of Karachi, adding that the politics of hatred and division in the economic hub of the country has reached its logical end.

“Democracy is the best revenge,” reiterated the PPP chairman.

Bilawal also said that Karachi will now become the cradle of development, peace and brotherhood, adding that the local government problems of every street, neighborhood and area of the city will be solved without discrimination.

Asif Ali Zardari

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Wahab and all mayors and deputy mayors of Sindh.

“The success of elected local representatives is the result of workers' hard work,” he added.

The PPP co-chairperson further directed all elected members to keep the doors of their offices open for the public.