Extremist outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) narrowly lost the Karachi NA-240 by-elections to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) by only 65 votes, raising concerns that a violent group has the ability to mobilise voters even in a longtime MQM-P stronghold.
Unofficial results had shown the TLP leading over the MQM-P; however, by the end of the night, it became apparent that MQM-P had managed to retain it's seat, which had become vacant after the party’s MNA Iqbal Ali Muhammad Khan died due to natural causes.
Reports showed that the MQM-P candidate Muhammad Abu Bakr bagged 10,683 votes, followed by TLP’s Shahzada Shahbaz who secured 10,618 votes. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had boycotted the by-election.
The district received a very low voter count, with reports from the Election Commission of Pakistan suggesting that there were 309 polling stations established for 529,855 voters of which only 8.38 percent [43,948] of them voted in the by-elections.
People on social media are quick to point out that TLP's near victory should not be taken lightly, as the party came very close to winning a seat for its first MNA.
https://twitter.com/AmirZia1/status/1537664300323569680
https://twitter.com/DurraniViews/status/1537501472153296899
https://twitter.com/ZahidGishkori/status/1537689566584373248
https://twitter.com/OwaisTohid/status/1537668970853158912
https://twitter.com/Faizan__Hassan/status/1537504357956349952
https://twitter.com/mubasherlucman/status/1537488056512417792
https://twitter.com/distantmaddy/status/1537711354840289282
The TLP has rejected the results and demanded a recount, claiming there had been instances of rigging. Experts and analysts have been theorizing as to why the TLP was able to mobilize such a significant voter base, and the general consensus seems to be the MQM supremo Altaf Husain had given orders to boycott the election.
https://twitter.com/Roohan_Ahmed/status/1537534279932076034
Another theory being touted is that Karachi has been home to a significant barelvi vote-bank.
https://twitter.com/BasilBukhari/status/1537696225784381441
https://twitter.com/DrJunaidMAlam/status/1537694237026062336
Unofficial results had shown the TLP leading over the MQM-P; however, by the end of the night, it became apparent that MQM-P had managed to retain it's seat, which had become vacant after the party’s MNA Iqbal Ali Muhammad Khan died due to natural causes.
Reports showed that the MQM-P candidate Muhammad Abu Bakr bagged 10,683 votes, followed by TLP’s Shahzada Shahbaz who secured 10,618 votes. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had boycotted the by-election.
The district received a very low voter count, with reports from the Election Commission of Pakistan suggesting that there were 309 polling stations established for 529,855 voters of which only 8.38 percent [43,948] of them voted in the by-elections.
People on social media are quick to point out that TLP's near victory should not be taken lightly, as the party came very close to winning a seat for its first MNA.
https://twitter.com/AmirZia1/status/1537664300323569680
https://twitter.com/DurraniViews/status/1537501472153296899
https://twitter.com/ZahidGishkori/status/1537689566584373248
https://twitter.com/OwaisTohid/status/1537668970853158912
https://twitter.com/Faizan__Hassan/status/1537504357956349952
https://twitter.com/mubasherlucman/status/1537488056512417792
https://twitter.com/distantmaddy/status/1537711354840289282
The TLP has rejected the results and demanded a recount, claiming there had been instances of rigging. Experts and analysts have been theorizing as to why the TLP was able to mobilize such a significant voter base, and the general consensus seems to be the MQM supremo Altaf Husain had given orders to boycott the election.
https://twitter.com/Roohan_Ahmed/status/1537534279932076034
Another theory being touted is that Karachi has been home to a significant barelvi vote-bank.
https://twitter.com/BasilBukhari/status/1537696225784381441
https://twitter.com/DrJunaidMAlam/status/1537694237026062336