PPP edge shrinks in final LG tally in Karachi.

KARACHI -- The final tally of the local bodies eleActions held on Jan 15 - relAeased by the Election ComAmission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday - gives the rulAing PPP 91 seats in KarAachi, which retains a slight edge over the Jamaat-i-Islami's (JI) 85 seats.

However, an upcoming hearing, to be conducted by the election watchdog over complaints of irregularities in six union commiAttees not counted in these results, could change the numbers game altogether.

The initial results had given the PPP 93 seats, followed by 86 to the JI and 40 to the PTI. Subsequent recounting and legal challenges have trimmed both the PPP and JI's seat count, and increased the PTI's by two.

The result of the complaints regarding irregularities in six UCs could once again change the numbers, but mainly for the JI and PPP. It may be mentioned that the JI has claimed it has documeAnted evidence of winning all six of the contested UCs, where it alleges the PPP was 'wrongfully' declared the winner.

It may be recalled that there are 246 UCs spread over Karachi's seven districts. Polling had earlier been postponed in 11 UCs due to the deaths of candidates. It then took the ECP more than a week to release the final results of 229 UCs out of the 235 contested on Jan 15.

The final results show that the two major parties - the PPP and JI - were also neck and neck at the district level. Out of the seven districts, the PPP won a majority in four while the right-wing JI emerged victorious in three.

'The PPP won a majority in four districts - Malir, West, South and Keamari - while the JI grabbed three - Central, East and Korangi,' an official said, citing the final results. 'Interestingly, the JI won the most votes, as it was voted for by 429,065 people out of the more than 1.2 million in total, compared to the 361,703 votes for the PPP and the 325,875 votes for the PTI.'

The PTI, which emerged as the single largest party from the city in the 2018 general elections, with 14 MNAs and over 20 MPAs, has suffered a setback in the local bodies polls, securing third position with its 42 seats according to the final results. It also failed to secure a majority in any of the seven districts.

Others who won a mandate include the PML-N, which won seven UCs; the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), with two seats; and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and one independent candidate, who each won a...