KARACHI: A day after the by-election on remaining 11 union committees of the metropolis, leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamaat-i-Islami — the two top contenders for the office of Karachi mayor — continued to trade allegations against each other.

“Condemning” the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to ensure fair and peaceful polling in Karachi, the JI called the ruling PPP “fascist” and accused it of using government machinery and its workers as an “armed force” to “steal the mandate of Karachi”.

Speaking at a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq, JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the ECP had failed miserably in holding free and fair local government elections in Karachi to meet its constitutional obligation and prime responsibility.

“We condemn the Election Commission for playing a nefarious role in support of the fascism showed by the PPP government in Sindh during Sunday’s by-elections,” he said.

Wahab calls for probe into Jamaat’s election spending

“The PPP captured a number of polling stations and threw out our and other parties workers at gun point. At several spots, armed workers of PPP attacked JI polling agents and its workers. What’s the use of law enforcement agencies in the city when they are unable to protect the lives of people,” he asked.

He said that JI would keep its struggle on for the city and its people, vowing that the party will form the local government in Karachi despite all the “fascism” showed by PPP and its goons.

PPP hits back, says people reject JI

Heaping scorns at the JI, the PPP on Monday called for investigations into JI’s spending on local government elections in Karachi, alleging that the party was using funds it had generated in the name of charity and donation for its welfare wing.

The PPP strongly criticised JI for its “hatred-based” narrative that was “rejected” by the people of Karachi, and accused it of “exploiting” the politics of agitation after conceding defeat in the elections.

“I think there should be an inquiry on the mandate of Jamaat-i-Islami, and to investigate which social organisation’s charitable donations were used for politics,” Sindh government spokesman and Chief Minister’s Law Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab told reporters.

Later, addressing a press conference, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the success of PPP was a reflection of the trust that the people of Karachi had on the party and its leadership.

“The people have showed their confidence by voting for PPP. The development work happening in Karachi is remarkable, featuring the construction of bridges, underpasses, and the removal of garbage, while new buses are operating, along with other development projects,” he added.

Calling JI’s narrative “a bundle of lies”, he said the opposition party was only finding lame excuses after suffering defeat.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also expressed his gratitude to the people of the province for reposing their confidence in the PPP in the LG by-polls. He said that now a ‘jiyala’ would be the mayor of Karachi.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2023