Local body election results in Karachi continue to be slow, with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) condemning the delay while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected the results.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi President Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that despite a delay of 18 hours from the end of polling, we are not getting the results from the Returning Officers (RO).
He strongly condemned the delay and demanded the authorities concerned to stop the ROs who are “trying to change the results”.
Rahman also alleged that more than 30 voters’ lists were corrupted but still a decent number of people came out to vote.
He said that many people of People’s Party also voted for Jamaat-e-Islami. He further said that his party has won more than 100 seats, the remaining seats are uncertain.
He said that we have conducted these elections with hard work and wherever there is any discrepancy we will expose it.
Rehman added that the results of some UCIs have been forcibly changed.
Jamaat-e-Islami is ready for unity.
Earlier speaking during Geo News’ program ‘Jeo Pakistan’, Naeem expressed his desire to ally with other political parties if necessary.
Rehman said his party wants to manage the municipality independently, however, he is ready to negotiate with another party for an alliance.
When asked whether he would join the PTI or the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Naeem said he would talk to all parties for the betterment of Karachi.
He said that we will try to talk to other parties because we have a mandate, so everyone should respect our mandate.
Naeem also said that Jamaat-e-Islami had emerged as the number one party through hard work, adding that they had won votes from those belonging to other political parties.
Talking about the results of the local body elections, the JI president said: “According to our calculations, we have won more than 90 Union Councils (UCs) and the number is likely to go beyond 100. “
Naeem also lamented his party’s attempts to reduce seats, saying it should not have happened.
Talking about the city’s future plans, the JI chief said that his party first wants to clean up Karachi. He said he would have to discuss the K-IV water project, review mass transit and address issues related to the sewage system.
He added that we will need the help of the federal and provincial governments.
Talking about the low voter turnout, Naeem said that the voter list has already been compromised.
“Around 30%-35% of people could not vote where they live and many were not even sure if the elections would take place due to their constant postponement,” he said.
PTI rejected the results.
Senior PTI leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi questioned the slow pace of results despite the low turnout, saying his party rejects the election results.
Naqvi said that 16 hours have passed since the polling time but only 40 results out of 246 have been declared, adding that the low turnout was due to people’s lack of interest in the system and democracy.
To a question about supporting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) on issues of constituencies and voter list, the PTI leader said that the tenure of the previous local government had ended in September 2020, and they would not resolve the issues. Can’t wait any longer. He further said that PTI has reservations but wants the local elections to go ahead.
He further said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is against him. Firdous added that PTI is at the peak of its popularity, and the LG election results do not reflect this.
Asked about a possible alliance with the People’s Party or Jamaat-e-Islami, the PTI leader said that he would not form an alliance with anyone. He termed PPP as an anti-Karachi and anti-Sindh party and added that he would personally advise his party to support it if it emerges as the frontline party of Jamaat-e-Islami.
