** official interference in Sindh mayoral polls
 

ISLAMABAD: Neither Rangers **r any other state agency or government organ made even a slight effort to manipulate or interfere with the genuine electoral mandate of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the election of its **minees as all-important mayors of Karachi and Hyderabad, reinforcing the message that **ne was inclined to inhibit its **rmal politics.

Similarly, there was ** official meddling whatsoever in the election of heads of other local governments although the kind of relations the MQM has with the establishment is before everybody. All of its representatives won where they had the required number of votes to be successful.

Karachi mayor-elect Waseem Akhtar did **t mince words in congratulating the government for accepting the people’s mandate without any reservations. He wanted to move ahead to resolve problems of Karachi saying let bygones be bygones. His post-victory remarks reflected reconciliation and understanding to work with all power centres.

As a result of the just exercise, the MQM got what it deserved according to the public mandate that it had been showered in the December local elections. Apprehensions ventilated after the universal furor and denunciation over Monday’s anti-Pakistan assertions of Altaf Hussain, which hinted at depriving the MQM of its due share in the local governments, turned out to be false and phony.

This is **t the new policy of the powers that be, which was introduced in the election of mayors and chairmen of the local councils **w. Way back in April, 2015, all the state agencies had remained totally neutral when the fiercely fought by-election to NA-246 Azizabad, Karachi, was held. All the MQM fears expressed before the polling proved to be totally incorrect as the exercise was unprecedentedly independent and unprejudiced. Its candidate Kanwar Naveed had won hands down and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) representative Imran Ismail had got a matchless beating. The by-poll was held at a time when the MQM was in dire straits because of the Rangers’ first-ever raid on its headquarters, Nine-Zero, from where a number of criminals including a convicted killer were arrested.

What the Rangers had then absolutely ensured was that there was ** law and order problem, ** ballot stuffing, bullying and intimidation by the MQM squads, which was always alleged in successive Karachi elections by its detractors.

Wednesday’s fair and free election of heads of the local councils, devoid of intervention sponsored by any official agency, reinforced the impression that ** state institution has any objection if the MQM follows the usual, **rmal and standard principles of democracy and refrains away from terrorising and coercing its political nemeses.

After the famous by-election, the MQM was immensely satisfied that its mandate was **t stolen and it was given a level playing field. Likewise, it was contented and relaxed on Wednesday that it got its due share in the local governments and **body tried to snatch it.

The election of Karachi mayor was held in a unique environment: MQM contestant Waseem Akhtar, who was allowed to cast his vote and address a post-victory presser, contested it from behind bars, facing a number of serious charges. His detention clearly reflected the policy of the establishment towards him. But still ** meddling in the electoral process was done.

Despite the utter confusion and uncertainty that had gripped the MQM councilors because of Monday’s despicable episode, there were ** desertions in its ranks as against the speculated impression that it may be in deep trouble in this election.

The blistering attack and aggressive opinion of the antagonists of the MQM apart, the party proved that it is still a cogent, unified force although it is confronted with the worst time of its life.

It will be the first time that new Karachi mayor will run the mega city from prison. Despite heavy odds, the MQM councillors stood ground and did **t replace Waseem Akhtar with someone acceptable to influential circles.

On the day he was elected as mayor with a thumping vote, police in an interim charge-sheet, filed with an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), said that Waseem Akhtar, who was in-charge of the home department in the Sindh cabinet, confessed to his involvement in the bloodshed of May 12, 2007.

The PTI was successful in getting the ****** of vice chairman of the West district of Karachi but had to face utter embarrassment and was accused of treachery. The Karachi Ittehad comprising the PTI, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) jointly vied for the posts of chairman and vice chairman of the district West but the PTI deceived the alliance by voting for the MQM **minee for the chairman. In exchange, it got MQM votes for its vice chairman. Estranged Amanullah Afridi of PML-N did **t allow PTI leader Imran Ismail to address a presser charging him with deceiving the Karachi Ittehad.





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