The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the schedule for the by-election on a National Assembly seat, NA-240, in Karachi. The seat fell vacant after MQM-P MNA Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan passed away.
According to the ECP notification, voting will take place on June 16. The candidates can submit their nomination papers from May 7 to May 10. Moreover, May 14 will be the last day for the scrutiny of candidates, with the polling date set for 16th June.
Interestingly, if a PTI candidate wins the NA-240 Karachi seat, then it will set the stage for PTI in the next general elections. In 2018, MQM-P’s Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan won the NA-240 seat with a total of 61, 165 votes. Meanwhile, PTI’s Farrukh Manzoor, the second runner-up, bagged a total of 29,939 votes.
Read more: Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct bye-elections of 123 seats
Moreover, Sindh is PPP’s stronghold, along with Karachi having a strong tilt towards MQM-P in Karachi. PTI earlier failed to make a major impact in Karachi’s by-elections. This time too, it is expected that MQM-P will win the NA-240 seat.
الیکشن کمیشن نے این اے 240کراچی میں ضمنی الیکشن کااعلان کردیا، پولنگ 16جوان کو ہوگی ،ایم کیوایم کے اقبال محمد علی کی وفات کے باعث نشست خالی ہوئی تھی pic.twitter.com/Hiiaxpc71K
— Saqib Virk (@SaqibVirkPK) April 25, 2022
However, the recent political events have increased PTI’s popularity among the public. The forceful ouster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan as the prime minister has certainly become a favorable development as it has increased the public’s sympathies.
Karachi behind Kaptaan?
Ever since Imran Khan left office, the public has vowed to support him at all costs. PTI has held four successful public gatherings in the federal capital, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, pulling out mammoth crowds in each rally. The willingness of the crowds to take to the streets certainly prove the public sentiments towards PTI.
If a PTI candidate wins the Karachi NA-240 by-elections, then it will once again strengthen the PTI’s narrative on how the public has rejected the “imported hukoomat”.
Pertinent to mention, PTI recently won the by-elections in NA-33 Hangu. As per the unofficial results, Nadeem Khan of PTI won with 20,772 votes, followed by Obaid Ullah (18,244 votes) of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal.
Read more: Experts predict PTI will win next elections?