KARACHI, June 15 (EW) : Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) candidate Murtaza Wahab leads in the election for Karachi mayor on Thursday after securing 173 votes and his rival, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, got 161 votes as per unofficial results.
The voting for Karachi’s new mayor started earlier in the day with elected members of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council taking part in the process.
In the tight contest, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Murtaza Wahab and Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Hafiz Naeemur Rehman were facing each other with Salman Abdullah Murad of PPP and Saifuddin Advocate of JI contesting for the post of deputy mayor.
Clashes erupt between JI and PPP workers
Following the announcement of unofficial mayoral results, clashes erupted between workers of JI and PPP outside the Arts Council of Pakistan.
According to news reports during the voting process, the situation outside the premises remained extremely tense. However, the police took control of it but as the results came out, the verbal altercation turned into clashes.
The workers of both parties pelted stones at each other, on which the police and Rangers took action to stop the quarrel. Moreover, law enforcers also detained several workers for pelting stones.
‘Govt abducted PTI member’
On the other hand, JI cried foul and alleged that the Sindh government has abducted 29 PTI members who were supposed to vote for Rehman in the election.
The party requested the ECP to declare the polls “null and void” and also announce a new schedule for the polls.
Bilawal says heavy responsibilities on Wahab’s shoulders
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.
Zardari congratulates elected members
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.
The Arts Council Auditorium was declared a polling station for the election of mayor Karachi where the members are being allowed to enter the premises after identification.
Moreover, members coming for voting will not be allowed to carry mobile phones.
Voting will be by show of hands in the auditorium and according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), private media will not be able to cover the polling process.
However, the initial proceedings will be broadcasted on state TV, but the show of hands will not be shown on state television as well.
Apart from this, the election of the chairman and vice chairman of nine Town Municipal Corporation will also be held today, while the candidates for chairman, vice chairman in 11 towns have been successful without any opposition.
It should be noted that in 16 out of 25 Town Municipal Corporations of Karachi, PPP has won eight seats, JI has won six seats and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has won two seats unopposed.
The PPP has won unopposed in Gadap Town, Malir Town, Ibrahim Hydari Town in Malir District, Lyari Town in South District, Manghopir Town in West District, Baldia Town in Kemari District, Morero Mir Bahar Town and Maripur Town.
JI has won unopposed on the posts of chairman vice chairman in Landhi Town, Model Colony Town of Korangi District, North Nazimabad Town, Gulberg Town, Liaquatabad Town and Nazimabad Town of Central District.
The towns that PTI won unopposed include Saddar Town in South District and Shah Faisal Town in Korangi District.
