KARACHI - The Muttahida Qaumi Movement managed to bag 135 union councils, becoming the leading party in the city.
The party could have its own mayor without the support of any other political entity. The MQM was followed by the PPP that won 25 union councils from the city. The Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI alliance won only 17 seats and faced a major setback in the elections. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, as many as 48 candidates had already returned unopposed in all 247 union committees and councils. Eighteen candidates have been elected unopposed in District Central, followed by 13 in West, nine in South, six in Malir and two in East.
According to district wise breakup of the MQM seats, the party has won 50 out of 51 union councils from District Central, making it a clean sweep with exception to a single seat won by the Pakistan People’s Party. The MQM also won 19 union councils from District East, 16 from District West, 10 from District South, 15 from district councils in Malir and 25 from district Korangi.
The Pakistan People’s Party remained the second largest party with 25 union councils and it also succeeded in winning a majority in district council seats comprising of Malir and West areas with 21 seats out of 38 union councils.
According to district wise details, the PPP managed to bag five seats from Malir District out of total 13 union councils, four each from West and East districts and one seat from District Central. The party was also able to win 11 seats in District South that also included seven out of total 15 union councils from its stronghold-Lyari.
The JI-PTI coalition won only 17 union councils in the city. As per details, the coalition won five seats from District East including that of PTI Central Leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi, seven seats from District West, three union councils from District South, one from District East and two union councils from District Malir.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl group-supported by the PPP and Awami National Party also claimed to have succeeded on two union councils-one from UC-3 Pathan Colony in District West and UC-2 in Malir District. The party also won three seats of vice chairman and 15 ward councilors.
The independent candidates won five seats from Lyari in District South, three in West and one in District East. According to an ECP official, the official results of the 70 per cent of the union councils were prepared and the entire result would be finalised by Monday (today). “We will display the results of every union council at the district offices by Monday,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah telephoned MQM leader Wasim Akhtar, congratulating him over his party’s victory in the local bodies elections in Karachi.
According to the CM House spokesman, Qaim made a call to Wasim Akhtar and felicitated him and his party for being victorious in the elections. He said the Sindh government respected and applauded the MQM’s mandate and wanted to see prosperity in the metropolis along with them.
MQM-H rejects results
Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed rejected the Karachi local government election results. Addressing a press conference at his residence here Sunday, Afaq said that Karachi mandate was handed over to the MQM as per a plan designed by the ‘angels’. He alleged the police and Rangers were not present at polling stations in various areas, providing a safe path to the opponent to carry out rigging. “Despite of our repeated complaints to the ECP, the LEA personnel remained absent at various polling stations and Rangers did not respond, while the polling stations remained under control of the MQM.
The MQM-H leader alleged that LEAs handed over mandate of the city to the Muttahida through an agreement. “I don’t know what would be the future of the city,” said Afaq.