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Saturday, May 18, 2013
MQM boycotts re-polling in NA-250
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday announced to boycott re-election at 43 polling stations of NA-250 constituency. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected MQM’s demand of re-election at all polling stations of NA-250. Earlier, the MQM had stated that it will take part in polls in the constituency with reservations after refusal of petition for re-election in the entire constituency instead of just 43 polling stations. While addressing a press conference at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat Azizabad, MQM’s leader Raza Haroon said that an emergency meeting of MQM Coordination Committee was underway simultaneously in Karachi and London to think over ECP’s decision to conduct re-election at 43 polling stations of NA-250 constituency of Karachi. The decision to boycott electoral process in NA-250 has been taken after proper consideration by the party leaders, he said.
Addressing the press conference, Haroon said that it was time for the ECP to prove that it was willing to ensure transparency in the election but it rejected the plea that was based on facts. He said that the issue is sensitive and the MQM’s demands were not taken seriously although the party behaved in a democratic way and held peaceful protest outside the ECP office asking for the rights of people to vote. He added that the ECP’s failure and mismanagement was witnessed on the day of elections, which included delay in polling in the said constituency. He said MQM was not pleading its case rather the case of the people in front of election tribunal and the rejection raises a question mark on the ECP status. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk