KARACHI - The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday wins both PS-106 and PS-117 seats despite low turnout in the by-polls. According the unofficial results of PS-117, MQM candidates Qamar Abbas Rizvi won the seat by securing 10,773 votes leaving behind PPP Maqbool Butt who secured 1314 votes. Similarly, MQM candidate Mehfooz Yar Khan won PS-106 securing 10,870 while PTI candidate Nusrat Anwar secured 1100 votes.
Earlier, during the polling low turnout was witnessed in the both constituencies. People not even showed little interest in the polling while the hot temperature during the day presented a deserted look at the polling stations. The polling staff reached their respective stations on time and started the polling process sharp at 8.am and continued till 5pm without any break; however this first vote was cast after the 9.am.
No major incident of violence was reported during the polling whereas the police and Rangers personnel were deployed to control any untoward situation. Furthermore the security personnel also conducted patrolling at the both constituencies. Polling staff during the polling time kept waiting for the voters and at many areas only MQM election camps were seen as many other political parties did not even bother to install camps to guide the voters.
The polling staff told The Nation that the turnout is very low as about five to six people were coming to cast their votes in an hour. Only ten votes has been cast in three hours informed a polling staff at a polling booth established for women. It has been 12.pm and only three votes cast till now, said a staffer at the polling booth of 2 and 11 of polling station of Government School Ibrahim Ali Bhai. Similarly only 10 votes were cast at polling booth 4. At polling station of Matron Quarter Girls Secondary School, total numbers of 50 votes were cast till noon.
A part from this, at many of the polling stations established at government schools, the worse condition become agony for the polling staffs and voters as there was no electricity and waters. The polling stations of Laiquaitabad, Shareefabad, Bandani Colony, Ishaqabad, Federal Capital area, Alkaram Square and others showed lack of basic facilities.
MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar and his wife Afshan Farooq cast their votes at the polling station of PS-117. Talking to media, Sattar said that earlier the MQM will win the both seats.
Tough fight is always assumed as the other political parties run their election campaign with energy but it is unfortunate that low turnout is witnessed due to poor interest of other political parties in the elections.
To a query, Sattar said that currently Karachi is being recognised as the dirtiest city of Asia. More than seven month has passed after the holding of Local Bodies elections but the Mayor Election was still in pending. He vowed the MQM will change the entire shape of the city after winning the slot of Karachi Mayor.