In a major development, PPP has gained a simple majority for the Hyderabad mayor slot as the unofficial and unconfirmed results of all 155 Union Committees of Hyderabad have been released, after the local government (LG) polls in Sindh.
According to the unofficial results of all 155 UCs, PPP secured 98 seats and has become the single largest party to appoint a Hyderabad mayor. Meanwhile, PTI remained at the second spot with 38 seats, while 14 independent candidates also remained victorious in the LG polls in Hyderabad.
The results of local bodies polls in Karachi and Hyderabad that came out after a delay of almost 29 hours, surprised many as PPP emerged victorious from both cities.
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Before the results were finalized, PPP was already on its way to a clean victory. PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto congratulated the party and thanked the people of Hyderabad for their support.
“Historic win for PPP this LB election,” Bilawal Bhutto said.
Congratulations PPP, our polling agents are reporting Hyderabad mayor will be a jiyala! Grateful to the people of Hyderabad for their support. Historic win for PPP this LB elections IA. #YeShaherHyderabadBhuttoKa #HyderabadHumSabKa pic.twitter.com/9u6g7hFlFm
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 16, 2023
The latest party position released by the Election Commission of Pakistan showed PPP with the highest number of seats with 93 in the Karachi Division after the LG polls. The PPP is followed by 86 seats won by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Karachi LG polls, PTI in the third position with 40 seats, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) with 7 seats, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) with 3, independent candidates with 3 seats and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) with 2 seat.
Even after the complete results for Karachi were announced, question marks over the post-voting electoral process persisted with contesting parties and candidates casting doubts over delayed results, non-availability of required documents to polling agents, and a slow response from the ECP to the complaints.
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The polling in Karachi on Sunday remained peaceful by and large with sporadic reports of violence. However, suspicions were raised as official results from the ECP, which continued pouring till midnight, came to a sudden stop. It took the commission hours to restart the process. The situation attracted a strong reaction from the opposition parties who accused the ECP of “conniving with the ruling PPP” to forge results.