CONTROVERSY continues to dog the results of the second phase of LG elections in Sindh conducted on Sunday, particularly the results for Karachi.

As per the tally so far, while the PPP leads in the metropolis, JI has come in a close second and the PTI has the third highest number of seats. The top leadership of the JI and PTI has cried foul, with allegations of ‘post-poll rigging’, as both parties claim the PPP has ‘managed’ the results.

This political confrontation has spilled out onto the streets, as several demonstrations took place in the city on Wednesday, while in separate incidents, violent clashes occurred between supporters of the PTI and JI and PPP workers.

In response to the scuffles, an antiterrorism case has been registered against PTI leader Ali Zaidi and other members of his party, while an FIR has also been lodged against JI supporters.

While all protests should remain peaceful, it is unwise to register terrorism cases against those demonstrating against the results. Moreover, the senior leaders of all three parties — the PPP, JI and PTI — need to show sagacity in this matter or else political scuffles can turn even more violent.

Party cadres need to be advised to express their views peacefully, while Sindh’s ruling party should not use the state apparatus to crack down violently on rivals. Firstly, there needs to be a consensus on the results.

The ECP has admitted that “irregularities” have been noted in at least six UCs, and the matter will be taken up on Monday. Once all the legitimate reservations have been addressed, the three leading parties need to accept the results in good faith, and move on to the business of electing the mayor.

As things stand, it is likely that the next mayor of Karachi will be elected after two of the three top vote-getters in the metropolis decide to join forces in the City Council. In this regard, though all three parties may be poles apart in the realm of national politics, they need to bury the hatchet for the sake of Karachi and work for the progress of this blighted metropolis.

A city that is supposed to be Pakistan’s economic engine, and shelters all within its embrace, has been severely let down by all political forces over the last few decades. In particular, after the Musharraf-era LG system was wrapped up, the city has fared very badly. Crime is out of control, infrastructure is crumbling, and sewage, water and solid waste services have failed to deliver.

Therefore, the parties that have been given a mandate by Karachi’s people need to reach an agreement on improving the lives of the residents, while the mayoralty should be an empowered office that can tackle all these considerable challenges.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023