Summary Wasim Akhtar, mayoral candidate of MQM is contesting the election from inside the jail
KARACHI (Dunya News) - Voting to elect mayor and deputy mayor of Karachi along with chairmen and vice chairmen of local councils across Sindh is underway.
The polling started at 09:00 am and will continue till 05:00 PM without any interval. The Election Commission has permitted locals possessing expired CNICs to cast votes.
Karachi’s last mayor, Mustafa Kamal, a renegade of MQM ended his tenure in February 2010.
The commission further has asked Sindh government and provincial election commission to ensure foolproof security during the election.
Rangers Sindh Director General, in this regard visited MQM’s sealed headquarters, Nine-Zero and personnel also raided a marriage hall where Dr Farooq Sattar and Amir Khan were present.
Wasim Akhtar, mayoral candidate of Muttahida Qaumi Movement is contesting the election from inside the jail from where he d be shifted to a polling station to cast vote. He is up against Pakistan People’s Party’s Karamullah Waqasi. Independent candidate Muhammad Rafeeq Khan and Irshad Hussain.
For Deputy Mayor, Irshad Wohra of MQM, Amanullah Afridi of PML-N and independent candidate named Naveed Javed are contesting.
On the other hand, People’s Party’s candidate has been elected unopposed as Chairman in Malir District and polling for Vice-Chairman has begun.
Meanwhile, MQM has unanimously won Chairman and Vice-Chairman seats in Central District of Karachi.
Mayor-Designate MQM’s Wasim Akhtar is in police’s custody after court rejected his plea to extend judicial remand last month in a case filed against Altaf Hussain for alleged inciting speech against national institutions.
Akhtar was nominated in the case as facilitator among other MQM members.
The mayoral election in Karachi has come in during a political turmoil in the city after Dr Farooq Sattar left workers of the party and sections of media confused with his press conference on Tuesday.
He announced detachment with Altaf Hussain, founder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement who is residing in London for over two decades in self-imposed exile.
Space for confusion birthed as members who stood by Dr Sattar during his press conference gave opposing statements later that day giving an impression that the leaders were not sure about their decision.
