Karachi by-polls eclipsed by low turnout

Published October 17, 2022
Clockwise from top left: Holding a little child in her arm, a citizen casts her vote; stall of a political party outside a polling station in NA-239; women queue up at a booth in NA-237; a group enters a station heavily guarded by police; a voter helps an elderly citizen in giving her thumb impression before casting a ballot; and the crucial moment of vote counting under way.
—Shakil Adil / Fahim Siddiqi / Faysal Mujeeb / White Star
Clockwise from top left: Holding a little child in her arm, a citizen casts her vote; stall of a political party outside a polling station in NA-239; women queue up at a booth in NA-237; a group enters a station heavily guarded by police; a voter helps an elderly citizen in giving her thumb impression before casting a ballot; and the crucial moment of vote counting under way. —Shakil Adil / Fahim Siddiqi / Faysal Mujeeb / White Star

Polling for by-elections on two National Assembly constituencies in Karachi — NA-237 in Malir and NA-239 in Korangi — was held in a peaceful manner, barring few incidents.

Former prime minister Imran Khan was contesting the by-polls on the two seats as a candidate of his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party. In NA-237, he faced ruling Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Hakim Baloch and in NA-239 the prominent candidate against him was Nayyer Raza of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.

While the overall voter turnout was low, it was slightly better in NA-237. The boycott announced by the Altaf Hussain-led MQM, or MQM-London, was blamed for poor turnout in NA-239.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2022

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
Updated 23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

Notion that Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom of expression difficult to reconcile with the reality of restrictions.
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...