Qasim alleges govt favouring PML(Q)

Published October 12, 2002

LAHORE, Oct 11: Punjab PPP president Qasim Zia on Friday rejected the Thursday elections as well as their results, saying the regime was trying to favour the PML-QA.

At a news conference at the office of Mr Munawwar Anjum, he demanded an inquiry into the rigging.

He alleged that bogus turnout was being announced for various constituencies because of which all results had become doubtful.

The PPP central executive committee would discuss the situation soon to prepare the party’s future course of action, he said. A decision on whether or not the legislators-elect take oath would also be taken by the party, he said.

Lahore PPP president Mian Misbahur Rehman was also present there.

Mr Zia said the actual turnout was not more than 25 per cent. But in various constituencies it had been artificially enhanced to 45 per cent or more and results of all such areas were going in favour of the PML-QA.

He alleged that at various places, polling agents had not been given signed copies of the results nor the results had been displayed outside the polling stations.

The PPP leader said free and fair elections would have been possible only under the supervision of an interim government. But he did not demand fresh elections.

He said the PPP and other democratic forces would try to block the PML-QA’s way to power.

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