PPP clinches coveted Karachi Mayor slot
Liaquat Ali
Karachi: In a significant achievement, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidates Murtaza Wahab and Salman Abdullah Murad have emerged victorious in the Mayorship and Deputy Mayorship elections of Karachi.
The duo secured a total of 173 votes, marking a historic moment for the PPP as they attain these positions in Karachi for the first time. The official notification is scheduled to be issued today, formally confirming their success.
The mayoral candidate from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, and the deputy mayor candidate, Saifuddin, received 160 votes. However, the absence of 31 members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and one member from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) prevented Jamaat-e-Islami from securing victory.
PTI’s Firdous Shamim Naqvi did not cast his vote as he opted to retain his Sindh Assembly seat. The returning officer, Nazar Abbas, officially declared the success of the mayor and deputy mayor, with the formal notification to follow on Friday.
In addition to the Mayorship, the PPP has also secured victories in 13 out of 25 positions for Town Municipal Corporation chairman and vice chairman in Karachi. JI candidates emerged victorious in nine towns, while PTI candidates won in three. The chairman’s seat in Mominabad was determined through a lottery draw.
The polling station for the mayor and deputy mayor elections was set up at the Arts Council’s auditorium, open from 9 am to 5 pm. JI members arrived first, with some PTI members joining them. The PPP members, accompanied by Wahab, arrived in a bus that included Saeed Ghani and Nisar Khuhro. The polling process began at 11:00 a.m., preceded by a half-hour grace period.
Despite JI having 130 members in the city council and a total alliance voter count of 192, including 62 PTI seats, the absence of 31 PTI members prevented Rehman from securing victory. Naqvi’s vote was not counted as he chose to remain a member of the Sindh Assembly, and one TLP member was also absent. Two arrested members of PTI were brought to the polling station under custody. Out of 366 members, 333 attended the election of the mayor and deputy mayor.
