As unofficial results pour in, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) appear to have emerged victorious in the third and final phase of local government (LG) polls held in Karachi and Punjab respectively on Saturday, Radio Pakistan reported.

MQM on way to bagging Karachi mayor's office?

The MQM clinched 135 seats in the election for six Karachi districts, trouncing the electoral alliance of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), both of whom bagged 11 and seven seats respectively. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged the runner up in Karachi, securing 32 seats, according to unofficial results.

The MQM appears poised to clinch the office of Karachi mayor.

Polling was held in Karachi’s 209 union committees (UCs) for which all major parties — the MQM, PTI, JI, PPP and PML-N — were in the run.

There are 51 UCs in Karachi’s Central district; 46 in West; 37 in Korangi; 31 each in East and South and 13 in Malir district.

The party that wins more than 105 UCs will be able to grab the mayor’s slot.

Polling in the city was marred by accusations and counter-accusations of rigging, but the major contestants eventually accused the Election Commission of Pakistan of making inadequate arrangements.

While the ECP said it had made the best security arrangements possible, citing the deployment of Rangers at extremely sensitive polling stations, political workers clashed in many city areas. However, no casualty was reported. Fifteen people were caught for rigging and other violations.

PML-N secures lead in south, central Punjab

PML-N emerged the leader in Punjab, winning 882 seats, according to unofficial results. Independent candidates secured 831 seats altogether, while the PTI followed up with 236 and the PPP with 106.

The elections were held in seven south Punjab districts — Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Layyah — and four central Punjab districts — Jhang, Khushab, Sialkot and Narowal as well as Rawalpindi.

Bloody violence was reported from Rawalpindi, where a cousin of an independent candidate was gunned down. Sporadic incidents of violence, clashes and injuries were also reported from other districts, but the elections were largely peaceful with negligible complaints of rigging.

Law-enforcement agencies and Rangers’ vigilant security coupled with a ban on carrying and displaying arms bore fruits as voters, an overwhelming number of women among them, used their right to franchise. Reports suggested that turnout of voters crossed 50 per cent in almost all 12 districts.

The first two phases of the elections were held in 12 districts on Oct 31 and Nov 19. The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Punjab office has announced that the results will be consolidated in a day or two and notified in one go.

Show-cause notices for Sherry, Sattar

The ECP issued show-cause notices for PPP vice president Senator Sherry Rehman and MQM leader and MNA Farooq Sattar for holding rallies in the run-up to the Karachi LG polls.

Nine MQM leaders, including Sattar, were earlier booked for violating the loudspeaker act, Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 'harassing commuters' during the Nov 26 rally.

The protest rally which started from Liaquatabad was scheduled to culminate at the Rangers Headquarters, but turned into a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi after police barred the protesters from moving towards the Red Zone.

The PPP's Nov 29 rally led by Sherry Rehman, which began at the Bilawal roundabout in Clifton and culminated at Muwach village in Karachi's western fringes was the highlight of its election activities for the Dec 5 LG polls.

The ECP directed Farooq Sattar and Sherry Rehman to submit replies within seven days.

According to the ECP code of conduct for political parties and candidates, the use of loudspeakers is banned except for during corner meetings.