Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) boycotted the second phase of the local bodies elections in seven districts of Sindh, including the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.
Despite the Sindh government’s announcement to postpone the local body elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) maintained that they proceed as scheduled on January 15 without additional interruption.
The second round of LG elections was set for July 24 last year; however, the Sindh government excused itself from holding the elections due to the lack of security and police presence caused by the flooding. The elections were subsequently postponed on August 28 and October 23. Today, after much ado, voting is finally going place.
Dr. Khalid Maqbool, the convener of the MQM-P, stated during a press conference alongside the party’s top leadership, “The local body elections have already been rigged. Consequently, we refuse to acknowledge the polls.”
Dr. Siddiqui noted that the election commission was established to conduct transparent elections. “However, the election commission has failed to fulfill its primary role. The party protested this injustice.”
“Until today [January 15], we’ve been battling for justice. “The provincial administration also brought the ECP’s attention to the constituency boundaries,” he said. He alleged that the ECP ignored all of the MQM- P requests.
“Mutahida’s efforts were not for the mayorship but rather for the correct representation of the city,” he said. He added that the city will not recognize these elections since “there is no properly managed voter list or delimitations by the ECP.”
In protest, the party is withdrawing from today’s local elections,” he stated, urging inhabitants of the metropolitan area to relinquish their voting rights.
He also stated that the ECP did not consider the MQM-P’s concerns. He stated, “Therefore, we will not participate in elections that do not lead to democracy and do not reflect a mandate.”
The MQM-P leader urged citizens to remain at home and join the demonstration. He emphasized that this is because the results of today’s elections will not reach the public.
According to the celebration organizer, the city’s rightful heir “will return again.” “The MQM-P will begin its concerted and organized work [for the general elections] on January 16,” he continued.
 declared a boycott of the second phase of the local bodies elections in seven districts of Sindh, including the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.){kind=link}