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Sunday, May 12, 2013
Major parties boycott election in Karachi, HyderabadKARACHI/HYDERABAD: Almost all political parties announced boycott of election in Karachi and Hyderabad over alleged rigging and violence.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday announced it would boycott elections in Karachi and Hyderabad, accusing rival MQM of rigging and violence. “These are false elections, armed workers of the MQM are terrorising people and rigging the elections,” Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, a JI party leader announced at a press conference.
Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also accused the MQM of major rigging in the city. JI withdrew all of its 29 candidates who were contesting for national and provincial seats, as well as withdrawing from Hyderabad.
The election commission also raised concerns about threats to its staff in the port city, which it says has prevented them from performing their duties. “In other instances, attempts have been made to hijack the vehicles transporting voting material from the returning officers to the polling stations. This has caused serious delays in polling,” it said in a statement.
The independent Free and Fair Election Network tweeted from its account that three of its observers had been beaten up by MQM workers in a district of Karachi. Arif Alvi, a senior PTI leader, also charged that “extensive rigging” had taken place, claiming that thousands of its supporters had been prevented from voting. However, PTI only announced to boycott elections from Hyderabad. JI also complained of a delayed start in voting in many parts of Karachi, which last year saw record violence linked to ethnic and political tensions.
Meanwhile, MQM candidate Nabil Gabol announced to boycott elections from NA-248, PS-108 and PS-109 Lyari constituencies. During a press conference in Karachi on Saturday, Gabol said MQM’s polling agents were harassed in Lyari, adding that despite constant demands for extra security in area no such arrangements were seen. Following Jamaat-e-Islami’s boycott, other political and politico-religious parties also announced to pull their candidates out of the polling race because of vote-rigging in Karachi and Hyderabad.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has also expressed its doubts in the fairness of the elections, saying that rigging is being carried in Karachi under an effective plan. Addressing a press conference, senior PPP leader Taj Haider alleged elections have massively been rigged in Karachi and subsequently their results would also be tampered. The MQM also complained of rigging. Addressing a press conference, MQM’s Farooq Sattar alleged that rigging is underway at some polling stations of Karachi.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain telephoned Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and complained about delay in the start of polling in various constituencies. Chief of Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqeeqi Afaq Ahmed also announced boycott of elections in Karachi, saying that the polling was not being held free and fair. Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) also pulled its candidates out of the polling race in Karachi. The SIC alleged that rigging was being carried out in an organized way.
Another key religious party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) followed suit. During a press conference, JUP central leader Sahibzada Abul-Khair Muhammad Zubair complained of rigging in Karachi and Hyderabad and announced to boycotts elections in the two cities. The chief of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Talal Akbar Bugti announced to boycott the elections completely, terming them a fraud. While talking to the media, he claimed that elections were not free, fair and transparent, adding that candidates had been pre-decided for selection. The Jamiaat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) also announced to boycott the elections of the National and Sindh Assembly constituencies of Karachi and Hyderabad. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk