Fresh LG polls demanded in Karachi, Hyderabad.

ISLAMABAD -- Rejecting the results of the local government (LG) elections held in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to declare the results null and void and announce fresh polls.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, PTI's secretary general Asad Umar accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the ruling party in Sindh, of stealing the public mandate in the LG polls held in Karachi by use of force, coercion and intimidation which, he said, the PTI would never accept.

Hours after Mr Umar's presser, Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) released its report based on the polling day observation, declaring that the polling in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions remained peaceful and relatively orderly, but the polls were tainted by allegations of rigging by major political parties over delay in the announcement of results.

Mr Umar said video clips, posted on social media, showed election staff stamping ballot papers. He said a PTI member Amjad Afridi through a video had explained as to how 1,000 votes were brought to a polling station. Later, he said, instead of taking action against those...