The Pakistan People Party (PPP) scored a big victory in Karachi after winning a majority of seats in local government by-elections, bringing the party closer to the city’s mayoral seat.
The party has obtained seats in 98 union council constituencies in the port city, and its overall position has strengthened following the announcement of the unofficial and unconfirmed results of the by-elections held a day earlier.
So far, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared the results of 240 of the city’s 246 seats. The results of the six remaining seats, five from district west and one from district east, have been withheld by the electoral commission.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is second and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is third in the provincial capital, with 89 and 42 seats, respectively.
Other parties that won seats in Sindh’s local body elections were Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with seven, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) with two, and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) with one.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed satisfaction with the party’s performance in the by-elections, calling it a “historical achievement” after the party’s victory.
Following the victory, the party took to Twitter to relay Bilawal’s statement.
“From Karachi to Kashmore, people have once again reposed their faith in the PPP. It is a historical achievement that all the district chairmen, including Karachi and Hyderabad, will be jiyalas (PPP supporters),” the PPP chairman said.
He added that success is the result of people’s trust, the sacrifices of parties’ martyred leaders and workers as well as the hard work of supporters.
Bilawal stated that the supporters of his party’s motto, “serve people without discrimination,” has expanded their obligations.
He has asked union council chairmen and councillors to include in the development of every street and neighbourhood in the province.
“Elected representatives of the party should remember that there is a Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s house in every street, and every neighbourhood belongs to the people’s leader [PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto],” he remarked.
The PPP chairman stated that the Bilawal House is as precious to him as the homes of ordinary Pakistanis. He has asked his party’s supporters to prepare a standard for serving people.
