Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman claimed that his party had emerged victorious on over 100 seats while there was confusion in the results of nearly 10 to 15 union councils. In a press conference on Monday he alleged that the returning officers were withholding results and attempts were being made to manoeuvre them. “I spoke to the authorities yesterday, including ECP officials. The chief minister also called and assured me that this issue will be resolved. However, 18 hours have passed and the results have still not been released,” he said. The JI chief demanded that ROs trying to tamper results must be stopped and demanded the ECP take notice. “I am not talking on hearsay.

My party worked hard for the elections and we ran a campaign. We were the only party that wanted elections. We put in the effort and ensured that the elections were held. We praised the ECP when it fulfilled its responsibility. But if you do something wrong, we will expose you as well. Rehman also warned the PPP and ECP against depriving people of their rights. “If you want to talk, sit and resolve this matter but you must do things with discipline […] we should be given our rights and this matter should be resolved in the next few hours,” he said. The JI chief added that if the process of counting votes continued on merit, his party would be able to bring its mayor to Karachi.

“But attempts are being made to turn us into a minority. I want to tell the chief election commissioner, Bilawal, CM and election staff to not take measures that force us to stage a protest,” Rehman added. Meanwhile, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman congratulated party supporters today on the “victory of the PPP in the second phase of the local government elections”. “The arrow is leading the way in Karachi, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Dadu, Johi, Sehwan, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Matiari, Thatta and other areas,” she tweeted. Rehman said “the results of local body elections so far revealed that the PTI has received a historic defeat”. The people of Sindh have chosen the PPP and have once again rejected the so-called narrative of the PTI, the minister added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP