Local body elections: Karachi results delay fuels rigging claims.

Political parties began claiming that “rigging is underway in the metropolis” after the early results of Karachi’s much-delayed local body (LB) election’s second phase was not finalized until midnight despite polling ending at 5 pm on Sunday.

With occasional confrontations, voting began at 8 am and proceeded uninterrupted. However, some post-election conflicts were recorded.

After the skirmishes, the Sindh administration and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were accused of delaying results.

As hundreds of thousands of people went to vote to pick their local representatives, various political parties grumbled and urged the ECP to lengthen polling time because some stations started late. Some polling stations agreed.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), an ally of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) first accused the Sindh government of delaying election by not guaranteeing polling officers arrived on time.

“Everything has been pre-decided, and they have only staged the polls for a spectacle,” Karachi JUI-F leader Qari Usman told reporters.

JI Karachi Emir Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman accused the ECP and Sindh government of rigging as results slowed.

Analysts claimed that since the PPP is the ruling party, winning the Karachi elections would raise problems even though the electoral commission is in charge.

Former Sindh governor and PTI leader Imran Ismail tweeted that his party won the election and thanked Karachiites for their “support.”

“PTI won the election – Imran Khan will announce our mayor – I am thankful to Allah and the people of Karachi. Inshallah, we will turn Karachi into a modern city.” Imran Ismail Tweeted