PPP leads in Sindh LG by-polls

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday took the lead in Sindh’s local bodies by-election as most of the seats were bagged by its candidates.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Deputy Mayor Salman Murad also emerged successful in their respective constituencies.

For 21 seats in 14 districts of the Sindh province, the Provincial Election Commission had appointed 14 district returning officers (DROs) and 20 returning officers (ROs). A total of 163 polling stations were set up, including 74 highly sensitive and 89 sensitive stations.

There were a total of 616 polling booths, 312 for male voters and 304 for female voters.

The by-polls in Karachi were held in five districts, including Malir, Keamari, East, South and Central, for 10 direct seats such as chairman, vice chairman, and general member. The electoral body had set up 121 polling stations, with 79 marked as sensitive and 42 as highly sensitive. On Sunday, the election process started peacefully. However, the voters turnout was extremely low throughout the day. The polling process continued till 5pm and no untoward incident was reported.

According to unofficial results, PTI’s candidate Mansoor Ahmed Shaikh returned as vice chairman with 1,363 votes in UC-6 Nanakwara, Town Municipal Committee Saddar, while TLP’s candidate Muhammad Shahrukh emerged as runner up with 657 votes. There were seven candidates in the run.

In UC-12 Boat Basin, TMC Saddar, Hamid Hussain won the vice chairman seat by securing 3,248 votes followed by JI’s candidate Imtiyaz Khan who received 757 votes. There were eight candidates from various political parties in the contest.

In UC-13 Clifton, TMC Saddar, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab won the seat by securing 3,949 votes followed by JI candidate Noor Islam with 1,556 votes. As many as seven people were contesting for the seat.

Wahab also returned unopposed as chairman from UC-8 Ibrahim Hyderi.

In Ward-3, UC-2 Gazi Dawood Brohi, Malir, independent candidate Muhammad Umer bagged the seat with 1,097 votes followed by PPP’s candidate Muhammad Ismail securing 967 votes. As many as six candidates participated in the LG by-polls for the general member seat.

Likewise, by-polls were held in Ward-4, UC-1, TMC Gadap, on the seat of general member. A total of three candidates were in the run. PPP candidate Noor Alam won the seat with 1,647 votes followed by JI candidate Allah Bachayo Gabol who secured 1,338.

In UC-7 Murad Memon, Malir, PPP’s Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Murad and Muhammad Saleem won the chairman and vice chairman seats with 9,932 votes, while JI’s Muhammad Ayoub and Muhammad Ibrahim remained runner-up with 1,350 votes. As many as six candidates participated in the contest. In addition, the by-election in UC-3 TMC Mauripur was held for the position of chairman, wherein the PPP candidate Saifullah won the seat by securing 5,466 votes, while the runner-up was JI’s Muhammad Hussain who bagged 788 votes. A total of six candidates contested for the seat. In Ward-4, UC-6 of TMC Jinnah, JI’s Raiz was elected as general member with 255 votes, while in Ward-3 UC-5, Rizvia Society, JI’s Talha Ahmed won general member by securing 364 votes.

Meanwhile, there was no polling in the Hyderabad district during the local government by-elections in the province as all the candidates won unopposed against the eight vacant seats of chairman, deputy chairman and ward. In addition, two wards in Hyderabad still remain vacant, because no nomination papers were accepted for those wards.

The Pakistan Peoples Partys candidates Muhammad Thebo returned unopposed from UC-76 for chairman, Noor Ahmed from UC-77 for vice chairman, Taj Wali Khan from UC-100 for vice chairman, Mehr Ali for chairman and Asif Mehmood for vice chairman from UC-127. PTI’s Samiuddin was elected unopposed as vice chairman from the UC-133.

PPP’s Asif Mirbaloch returned unopposed from Ward No 3, in UC-16 and Khalid Ali from Ward No 4, in UC-157.

All the candidates of PPP and PTI returned unopposed against the same seats they bagged earlier. Two councilor’s seats of Ward No 1 and Ward No 2 of Union Committee No 62 remained vacant due to rejection of nomination papers of PPP’s candidates.