JI is likely to join hands with PTI to form a local government in Karachi: Naeem

• Naeem warns PPP against “horse trading” to get their mayor elected.
• Says PPP adamant about getting its mayor despite a vote shortfall.
• JI leader says PPP celebrated the failure of Karachi and its people.

Jamaat-e-Islamis (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman has hinted that he wants to join hands with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to form a coalition government in Karachi, The news reported Sunday.

The statement came during a press conference at JI headquarters in metropolitan Idara Noor-e-Haq, where Naeem also warned the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) against using “horse trafficking” to steal the election of Karachi’s mayor.

“JI would continue to uphold democratic values. The PPP should not disgrace itself further by buying the conscience of the councilors of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation,” he said.

Naeem said that despite the ruling party falling 24 votes short of the local government in the mega-city, it was adamant to have their candidate elected mayor of Karachi.

“The PPP celebrated what it claimed to be its victory; however, it was an open secret that the ruling party had used unparalleled fascist tactics and state machines to manipulate the polls and boost its numbers,” he added.

Naeem went on to say that the PPS had failed to win a majority in local government polls, despite using naked fascism and state oppression.

The JI leader showed a result from a polling station in Karachi with 41 votes for the PPP. The result form not only had signatures from government officials, but also from, among others, the polling station of the PPP. He did show the result form issued by the government, in which the number of votes cast in favor of the PPP was increased from 41 to 419.

He said the PPP had the third position in the UC but was declared to have the first position in an ambush for grassroots democracy.

‘PPP fourth failed Karachi’

Speaking about the PPP’s victory celebrations, he asked Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari whether his party’s celebrations were meant to push Karachi and its people into the Stone Age.

“Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, you celebrate the failure of Karachi and Karachiites,” he said.

The JI leader said the total number of seats needed to establish local government in Karachi was 184. He added that if the JI were to form a coalition with the PTI, their number would be 191, not including six union committees whose cases were pending before the judiciary.

JI-PTI is talking at an advanced stage

He announced that talks between the JI and PTI were at an advanced stage and details would be shared with the media in due course. He reiterated that the JI would form the local government in Karachi.

He noted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) acted as if it had been taken hostage by the PPP. He also criticized the PPP for amending the local government law at a time when the polls had been conducted and the government had yet to be formed.

He said the Rangers had unfortunately played a mere spectator role in Karachi when PPP supporters rigged the election.

The JI leader also condemned the Sindh government and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) for halving the population of Karachi in the census.

Speaking about the state of public order across the country, he said that the government is responsible for maintaining law and order.

He said the government should refrain from revenge politics. The JI did not support riots and violence in the name of protests at all costs, but at the same time opposed any attempt to resort to undemocratic and draconian measures against any political party or group.

He particularly condemned the government for to arrest female political employees.