THE Pakistan Muslim League-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party looked set to emerge as the leading groups in Punjab and Sindh respectively after unofficial results for elections to local bodies started trickling in late on Saturday night.

The PML-N had taken an early lead on as many as 532 seats, out of a total of 2,696, in Punjab when we went to press. The Tehreek-i-Insaf was a distant second with a lead in 80 constituencies.

In Sindh, the PPP was leading on 564 seats, out of a total of 1,072, while the Muslim League-Functional was ahead on 50 seats.

Voters tried to make the most of a much-awaited opportunity to elect their representatives at the grassroots.

Although polling in most areas was by and large peaceful, Khairpur saw deadly violence when supporters of PPP and PML-F fought a gunbattle which claimed 11 lives.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2015

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