KARACHI: June 15, 2023: Barrister Syed Murtaza Wahab of Pakistan People Party (PPP) on Thursday won the elections of mayor by securing 173 votes. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman who was nominee of Jaamat-e-Islami (JI) got 161 votes.
Both Hafiz Naeem and Syed Murtaza Wahab came to the City Arts Council Karachi to cast vote amid huge crowds of their supporters. The supporters of both candidates kept chanting slogans in favour of their respective candidate when voting for mayor and deputy mayor elections was in progress.
Three arrested member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were also brought to the election polling station to cast the vote in the elections of mayor and deputy mayor Karachi. PTI had announced to vote Naeem-ur-Rehman in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor Karachi. However, 33 PTI members out of 62 did not turn up to cast vote in the elections of Karachi.
Wrapping up of voting for the elections of mayor and deputy mayor Karachi resulted in violent clashes between the supporters of JI and PPP. Some ugly scenes could be seen outside the building of the City Arts Council Karachi. The charged supporters of Syed Murtaza Wahab and Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman pelted stones on each other, besides smashing windows and glasses of vehicles parked in the premises of the City Arts Council Karachi. Unruly supporters of both parties also pelted stones on the police and other law enforcing agencies who tried to force them to stop violence.
Both parties blamed each other of violence following the elections for mayor and deputy major held at City Arts Council Karachi.
PPP leaders, Shurjeel Mamon and Syed Nasir spoke to the media soon after announcement of winning of PPP candidate in the elections. They blamed that JI workers were involved in vandalism following winning of PPP candidate.
Shurjeel Mamon and Syed Nasir Shah offered to JI to work togather for progess and development of Karachi. They also appealed to JI workers that they should shun the policy of vandalism which could create problems for the residents of Karachi.
PPP superemo, Asif Ali Zardari, congratulated Barrister Syed Murtaza and Salman Abdullah Murad for winning the elections of mayor and deputy mayor of Karachi.
