BADIN: The Bilawal Bhutto led Pakistan Peoples Party is likely to suffer a shocking defeat in Badin at the hands of Zulfiqar Mirza and his aides, as unofficial preliminary results show PML-N and Mirza group leading the poll count.
Details reveal that representatives from Mirza-led alliance are ahead in the local body elections from various areas of the district.
Unofficial results show Dr Mirza group has won in 10 wards of the municipal committee of Badin out of the 14 wards where elections were contested.
“PPP did not lose, it a defeat for the Zardari gang,” said Mirza while speaking to a local news channel.
He added that the PPP was still his party.
Read: Bilawal hits back at Imran in Badin rally
“It a tragedy that Bilawal came to Badin and I could not join him,” said Mirza while referring to Bilawal’s recent rally held in Badin in the run up to the LG polls.
He stated further that Bilawal is misguided by his father, and that he does not hold anything against PPP’s chairman.
Answering another question regarding PTI chief Imran Khan, Mirza praised Imran and referred to him as a “good leader”.
“I like Imran Khan as a leader and a politician, and do like the fact that he does not mince his words,” said Mirza.
The polling for the formation of municipal corporation, municipal committees, town committees and union councils in the second leg of local government elections came to an end peacefully in all polling stations of 14 districts in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah divisions on Thursday.
The Dr Mirza-led alliance emerged victorious in town committees of Tando Bago, Pangrio, Nindo Shahar and Khoski town.
MQM celebrates success
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has achieved considerable success in Hyderabad district, according to the unofficial results that have been released so for.
MQM activists could be seen celebrating in Hyderabad city.
MQM has emerged with a clear lead in Hyderabad so far, with counting underway in the district's many wards and union councils.
Earlier, PPP scion Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attracted a considerable crowd at a Badin rally where he was canvassing for votes ahead of the upcoming second phase of LG polls.
Also read: Zulfiqar Mirza to form own political party
In his speech the PPP chairman said he would continue to stand with the people of Badin, who had always stood with his slain mother Benazir Bhutto and now with him.
"My uncles have deceived me and my party, those who called my mother their sister have now have left me and met with Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and PML-N leaders to conspire against the PPP."
He asked his supporters to vote for the 'arrow' to ensure the defeat of PML-N, the Mirzas and Arbab Group.
Political analysts had earlier predicted that the Mirza family will give the PPP stiff competition in the district, which has traditionally been a stronghold of PPP.
In October, Zulfiqar Mirza had announced to form his own political party after having been sidelined from the PPP for the past many years.