LG poll campaign ends amid uncertainty.

KARACHI -- Clouds of uncertainty loomed over the second phase of the local government (LG) elections in Karachi as an otherwise dull electioneering ended on the night between Friday and Saturday with political parties ostensibly failing to create an environment for voting in the city.

Although the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected the request of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government to postpone the LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad as it had withdrawn the notification regarding delimitation on the demand of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, political parties could not conduct an effective election campaign on Friday, the last day of the poll drive, due to uncertainty, leaving the voters sceptical largely as there were hardly any corner meetings held or door-to-door campaigns run in almost every part of the metropolis to warm up them.

Reports of 'serious' security concerns at a meeting of the police and intelligence outfits held in Karachi in the afternoon added to the uncertainty over the holding of the polls as security agencies had reported about the presence of a strong network of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in the city.

Informed sources told Dawn that the provincial government considering approaching the high court as a last bid to get the polls deferred until the security situation came under control.

Over eight million voters in city

Meanwhile, the provincial authorities and ECP had finalised all necessary arrangements for the elections scheduled for Sunday.

ECP finalises arrangements at 4,990 polling stations across Karachi

According to the ECP, as many as 4,990 polling stations have been established in seven districts of Karachi Division for 8,045,475 voters to exercise their right to vote.

The polling staff, it said, would be handed over the election materials on Saturday after the election campaign ended.

In some localities, candidates visited their respective constituencies and held door-to-door contacts with voters. However, social media platforms were mainly used for the purpose.

Election camps set up near the polling stations were also used for the election drive.

In all the seven districts of Karachi, the election materials have been delivered to the offices of the deputy commissioners for further distribution among the polls staff on Saturday, Jan 14.

The election staff will move the ballot papers and other election materials to the polling stations...