KARACHI, Oct 15: The People’s Party Parliamentarians on Tuesday alleged massive rigging in NA-239, where it accused the polling staff and the establishment of subverting the mandate of the PPP.
Speaking at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club, central leaders of the PPP — Syed Qaim Ali Shah, N.D. Khan and candidate Iftikhar Hussain — accused the administration of deliberately setting up polling stations at far away places to make it inconvenient for the voters, especially for women.
They said the glaring irregularities were brought to the notice of the concerned authorities but no remedial action was taken.
Candidate Iftikhar claimed that he had not been provided a certified copy of the results as yet. He alleged that the results were manipulated by the returning officer to the advantage of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal candidate.
After giving instances of alleged manipulation, they demanded re-polling after declaring the elections in the constituency null and void.
Meanwhile, the PPP has released its version of the stuffing of ballots to subvert the will of the people by its opponents in Sindh.
Its spokesperson, Fauzia Wahab, claimed that in NA-201, Ghotki II, from where Jam Saifullah Dharejo was contesting, the Nazim of Pannu Aaqil, Ali Gul Mehar and SHO Karim Deno Sharr, created chaos and captured polling stations of Pannu Aaqil city. Voters of the PPP were denied entry to cast their votes. Two of its polling agents were kidnapped, and illegal voting and stamping of ballots continued in the presence of the administration.
In NA-202, Shikarpur I, where former Defence Minister Aftab Shaban Mirani was in the run, 16 polling stations, including l77, 198, 199, 223, 225, 226, 228, 229, 214 and 215 were allegedly captured and the ballot was abused. Polling agents of polling stations 198, 199, 223, 214, 215 and 177 were kidnapped and not released until the completion of the polls.
In NA-211, Naushero Feroze-I, the chief polling agent of a candidate was personally attacked, allegedly by Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, and the police refused to lodge an FIR. Masroor Jatoi, son of Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Nazim, was accused of using his official powers to obstruct the registering of the case.
Abduction of polling agents was also reported from NA-212. Two workers of Syed Zafar Ali Shah were killed in Kandiaro and several others were injured, allegedly by the Jatoi group.
According to the PPP spokesperson, the Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) had kidnapped ten PPP polling agents, and in NA-216 Khairpur, agents were still missing. In the Nara area of Khairpur, which is a kutcha area, the polling agents were kidnapped to manipulate the results. Further, the polling agents in many areas were denied entry into polling stations. The bogus voting was so blatant that where normally 300 votes were cast, the results show an increase of 3000, which is impossible in that area.
In NA-223, former chief minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi was held responsible for the kidnapping of a number of polling agents, display of arms and terror, and for intimidating voters.
In NA-227, Mirpurkhas, candidate Qurban Ali Shah was fired upon at the Meher Boota polling station.
Nawab Yousuf Talpur reported the taking over of several polling stations by the rival candidate in his constituency. The SDA candidate was allegedly found blatantly rigging the polls by stuffing ballot boxes with bogus votes.
In NA-229, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim was accused of capturing 30 polling stations and stuffing the ballot. In NA-237, similar problems were faced. In NA-242 Karachi IV, candidate Shakir Alam complained that voters of the PPP were denied entry in the polling stations of Nishter Girls College, Gabol Colony and Muhammadi School. Polling agents were thrown out of the polling premises and motor vehicles that carried PPP flags were not allowed to stand outside the gates of the polling stations. In Kali Pahari School, Qasba High School and Al-Faisal School polling stations, his agents, both male and female, were thrown out. Bogus voting took place in the presence of the TPO.
Bogus voting was alleged in NA-245, Karachi VII, NA-249, Karachi XI and NA-250, Karachi XII. It has been alleged that in the polling station of P and T Colony, the whole presiding staff was found to be prejudiced and partial against the PPP candidate. PPP voters were allegedly not allowed to enter the polling station. They were harassed by MQM workers, who were guarding the gates of the polling booths.
In PS-12, Shikarpur-IV, and PS-23, Naushero Feroze-V, similar complaints were also received. In PS-23, candidate Riaz Jamali accused the district Nazim of interference to the advantage of his uncle who was contesting from the National Alliance platform. Complaints were also received from other constituencies.
