14 May 2004	Friday	23 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 13: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MNAs and senators on Thursday rejected the results of the by- elections in Karachi and accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of 'terrorizing' voters and opponents on the polling day to commit 'massive rigging'.

Speaking at a joint press conference here on Thursday, the PPP leaders said the people of Karachi witnessed 'open state terrorism' on Wednesday during the by-polls for three National Assembly and one provincial assembly seats.

PPP secretary-general Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Farhatullah Khan Babar, Senator Enver Baig, MNA Rukhsana Bangash, MNA Fauzia Habib and PPP's Islamabad women wing president Nargis Faiz Malik asked the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to declare the 'by-elections in Karachi null and void'.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said no one was feeling safe and secure in Karachi due to the prevailing lawlessness. He said even the PPP women MNAs were attacked by MQM activists when they reached a polling station.

He said after receiving the information that some women polling agents of the PPP had been detained at a polling station, Naheed Khan rushed to the area. However, he said when she reached near the polling station, the MQM activists attacked her and opened fire on her car.

He alleged that the attackers had the support and 'patronage' of the Sindh government. "If the MQM continues to harass our workers and leaders, then MQM people will be confined only to Karachi," Mr Ashraf warned.

He said the PPP had been forced to use this language against its opponents. He alleged that the MQM men did not allow any person to reach polling stations in several areas.

"They were carrying kalashnikovs and challenging us to dare enter the polling stations," he added. Mr Ashraf said such people were enemies of democracy. He said all this had been done to achieve the results according to their own desire.