PTI retains Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s vacant NA-245 seat in by-poll

A voter at a PTI camp outside a polling station during the NA-245 by-poll. — NNI

• Unofficial results from 263 polling stations show PTI's Mehmood Maulvi emerged victorious in NA-245 by-poll.
• MQM-P's Mueed Anwar comes in second place with 13,193 votes.
• In 2018, PTI's Aamir Liaquat beat Dr Farooq Sattar after securing 56,673 votes.

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KARACHI: PTI has retained the NA-245 seat of Karachi on Sunday in the by-poll held for the election of the constituency’s new lawmaker after the seat fell vacant following the death of Aamir Liaquat Hussain, who was elected on a PTI ticket in 2018.
The polling process started at 8am and continued till 5pm today (Sunday). However, the polling time was extended by an hour at Polling Stations 55, 143 and 144. Aamir Liaquat beat Dr Farooq Sattar in 2018 after securing 56,673 votes. Unofficial results from 263 polling stations showed PTI's Mehmood Maulvi secured the seat with 29,475 votes.

MQM-P's Mueed Anwar was in second with 13,193 votes, TLP's Muhammed Ahmed Raza secured 9,836 votes, Farooq Sattar bagged 3,479 votes and MQM-H came last with 1,177 votes.

As per the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the voter turnout was 11.8% in the by-poll.

The polling for the by-poll was held amid strict security on the 263 polling stations. Out of the 263, 60 were declared sensitive and 203 most sensitive.
The by-poll in this constituency was scheduled for July 27, however, the ECP postponed the election owing to the lashing rains in the metropolis. PTI leader Ali Zaidi said that results showed who the people of Karachi are supporting. “This was a difficult contest due to the rains. The whole city is destroyed yet people came out to vote,” said the PTI leader. 

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/pti-retains-aamir-liaquat-hussains-vacant-na-245-seat-in-by-poll/?feed_id=14038&_unique_id=6302f1c7a965b

PTI's Mahmood Moulvi wins NA-245 by-poll

PTI's NA-245 by-poll winner Mahmood Moulvi (L) and PTI chief Imran Khan. — Twitter/@MoulviMahmood

KARACHI: PTI's Mahmood Moulvi has defeated MQM-P Moeed Anwar and retained the NA-245 seat, showed the unofficial results of the by-poll. Moulvi received 29,475 votes after count from the 263 polling stations was completed. MQM-P's Moeed Anwar remained second with 13,193 votes. The voter turnout in the constituency was 11.8%, the Election Commission of Pakistan shared. The seat was left vacant after PTI's Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain death in June.

'Karachi chooses who it stands with'

In the lead up to the final results coming in, PTI leader Ali Zaidi commented on Moulvi's possible win and said that the people of Karachi have chosen who they stand with. "This was a difficult contest . It was raining a lot," he said, adding that even though the whole city is struggling with havor wreaked by rains and flooding, the people arrived to vote at the polling stations. Earlier, PTI's candidate Mahmood Moulvi led the NA-245 by-poll with 28,405 votes as per unofficial results from 250 polling stations. MQM-P's candidate Moeed Anwar stood second with 12,300 votes, followed by TLP's Muhammad Ahmed Raza who secured 9,002 votes. Former MQM leader Farooq Sattar only managed to get 3,313 votes earlier, while PSP's Syed Hafeezuddin received 1,041 votes. Voting for by-polls in the NA-245 constituency ended at 5pm, after which counting of votes began. The by-poll's voting on Karachi's crucial NA-245 constituency started at 8am on Sunday morning an ended at 5pm, with 15 candidates in the run for the coveted seat. 
The contesting candidates included MQM-P's Mueed Anwar, the PTI's Mehmood Maulvi, the Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP) Syed Hafeezud Din, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan'S (TLP) Muhammed Ahmed Raza and MQM Bahali Committee's Farooq Sattar as an independent candidate.

Strict security at polling stations

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it finalised arrangements to hold the NA-245 by-polls in Karachi amid strict security. The electoral body said 263 polling stations have been set up, of which 60 have been declared sensitive and 203 most sensitive. The by-poll in the constituency was scheduled for July 27, however, the ECP postponed the election owing to heavy rains in the metropolis.

No gunmen allowed

A strict security plan was chalked out to maintain law and order during polling, according to the ECP. Additional Inspector General of Police Karachi Javed Alam Odho said that paratroopers are standing guard at the polling stations besides the police. The police official said no political leader will be allowed to have a private gunman. There are CCTV cameras at highly sensitive polling stations, he said. 

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ptis-mahmood-moulvi-wins-na-245-by-poll/?feed_id=13996&_unique_id=6302c74bea03f

Voting for Karachi's crucial NA-245 by-poll begins

A man casts his vote at a polling station in Pakistan. — AFP/File

KARACHI: The voting for the by-poll on Karachi's crucial NA-245 constituency began at 8am on Sunday morning, with 15 candidates in the run for the seat that fell vacant due to PTI MNA Aamir Liaquat Hussain's death earlier this year. Balloting will continue till 5pm.
The contesting candidates include MQM-P's Mueed Anwar, the PTI's Mehmood Maulvi, the Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP) Syed Hafeezud Din, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan'S (TLP) Muhammed Ahmed Raza and MQM Bahali Committee's Farooq Sattar as an independent candidate. A tough contest is expected between PTI, MQM-P and Sattar and MQM-P seems to have an edge as the PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) announced their support for its candidate while withdrawing their own contenders. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it finalised arrangements to hold the NA-245 by-polls in Karachi amid strict security. The electoral body said 263 polling stations have been set up, of which 60 have been declared sensitive and 203 most sensitive. The by-poll in the constituency was scheduled for July 27, however, the ECP postponed the election owing to heavy rains in the metropolis.

No gunmen allowed

A strict security plan has been chalked out to maintain law and order during polling, according to the ECP. Additional Inspector General of Police Karachi Javed Alam Odho said that paratroopers are standing guard at the polling stations besides the police. The police official said no political leader will be allowed to have a private gunman. There are CCTV cameras at highly sensitive polling stations, he said. 

CEC directs authorities to ensure transparent, peaceful election

Urging the people to exercise their democratic right without any fear, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja directed authorities to ensure transparency and maintain peace at all costs during the polling process. “Riots and interference in the polling process will not be tolerated,” the CEC said and warned of swift action against violation of the law. He directed the police and law enforcement agencies to remain alert and apprehend those who try to create unrest inside the polling station. Indiscriminate and swift action would be taken against every violation of the law, he vowed. The CEC urged the people not to believe in rumours and contact the ECP’s provincial and central control rooms for verified information and for lodging their complaints.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/voting-for-karachis-crucial-na-245-by-poll-begins/?feed_id=13688&_unique_id=6301c9170bd83

PPP withdraws candidate in favour of MQM for NA-245 by-poll

Sindh Labour and Human Resources Minister Saeed Ghani (L) and PPP leader Danish Khan speaking during a video message in Karachi. — Provided/File

KARACHI: PPP on Friday announced the withdrawal of its candidate Danish Khan in favour of MQM Pakistan for the upcoming NA-245 by-polls in Karachi.

Sindh’s Labour and Human Resources Minister Saeed Ghani, in a video message, said that the party decided to withdraw its candidate after coalition partners in the centre decided to field a joint candidate in the upcoming by-elections.

“Allied political parties, which were coalition partners in the federal government, had decided that the party whose candidate had remained runner-up in the last general elections in the constituency would contest the forthcoming by-election,” he shared, adding that coalition partners will fully support the contesting candidate.

Ghani added that the decision was only taken for the by-election to be held in Karachi on August 21 and that it was not applicable for the second phase of local government elections in Sindh to be held on August 28.

“All political parties would as usual contest the second phase of the local government elections in Sindh,” the provincial minister said.

PPP candidate Danish Khan — who unconditionally joined the party a month ago — fully supports the decision of the party’s leadership.

Khan said that he is withdrawing from the electoral race following the decision of PPP’s leadership.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ppp-withdraws-candidate-in-favour-of-mqm-for-na-245-by-poll/?feed_id=10132&_unique_id=62f6d45d762cc