From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Jamat-e-Islami (JI), the runners-up in the local government elections in Karachi, has announced protests in all big cities of Pakistan as it rejected the outcome of the polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the results of all the 235 Union Councils in Karachi (UC), according to which Pakistan Peoples Party is in the lead with success in 93 UCs. JI stands second with victory in 86 UCs, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coming third on 40 UCs.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won in seven UCs, Jamiat Ule-ma-e-Islam in three and Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan on two, Muhajir Qaumi Movement in one UC and independent candidates won in three UCs.
The results of the LG polls that came in unusually late — over 24-hours af-ter the voting concluded — were rejected by most of the contesting parties with claims of rigging.
JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq, while talking to the media Monday night, said that the delay in the release of results by the ECP was raising doubts.
He said that JI emerged as a big party in Karachi’s LG elections. “The poll-ing agents’ results are clear that JI has a majority,” Haq claimed.
He appealed to hold protests in all big cities of the country against the “rigging”, saying that the results of other parties were also being engi-neered.
JI’s spokesperson Qaiser Sharif also said that the party has given a call for countrywide protests yesterday (Tuesday). He said that Haq has also called a meeting in Mansoora to plan a strategy regarding the grass-root level elections in the port city.
