Sindh LG polls Clashes erupt in Karachi as political parties protest recount.

Protests and clashes erupted in different parts of Karachi on Wednesday night as political parties demonstrated against the recounting of votes cast in the recently held local government elections.

The second phase of the local government elections was held in 16 districts of Sindh on Sunday. However, major contesting parties - including the ruling PPP - had raised concerns over an unusual delay in the results in Karachi and blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for mismanagement.

The ECP took more than 36 hours to announce the results of 236 union committees of Karachi as the opposition PTI and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) accused the provincial administration of 'rigging and managing things' in its favour. However, contesting parties remain unsure about their mandate as the electoral watchdog has yet to finalise the results.

On Wednesday, JI workers protested on University Road outside Federal Urdu University. Workers set tyres ablaze and blocked the main artery causing traffic jams.

The protesters claimed that the results of Gulshan Town's UC-1 and two other union councils in Safoora - that were won by the party's candidates - were being changed through the recounting exercise.

The party also staged a protest at Malir Halt, causing traffic to pile up on National Highway and Sharea Faisal.

Similarly, PPP and JI workers also clashed outside the Malir deputy commissioner's (DC) office over the recounting of votes in a UC in Gulshan-i-Hadeed.

The seat was won by a JI candidate and the party claimed that the recount was based on 'malafide intentions'.

Later, Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur told media that police had brought the situation under control and dispersed the workers.

However, JI Karachi Spokesperson Sohaib Ahmed said police had baton-charged workers outside the Malir DC office. He claimed the PPP and the Sindh government had resorted to 'high-handed tactics' in order to carry out rigging.

'We will continue to protest for the seats which have been snatched from us,' he vowed, asking the Sindh government and the PPP to 'accept their mandate'.

PTI, PPP workers clash in Keamari

Meanwhile, PTI and PPP workers clashed outside the Keamari DC office, pelting either side with stones. The PTI accused the PPP of attacking its workers while the Keamari DC maintained that PTI workers forcibly entered the office and harassed staff.

Keamari DC Mukhtiar Abro, who is also the district returning officer, told Dawn.com that the PTI workers had 'encircled'...