KARACHI, Aug 19: The Pakistan People’s Party, Sindh chapter, has described the results of first phase of local government polls as ‘engineered’ and demanded that the Election Commission should declare the polls held in the province including Karachi as null and void and hold it afresh.

Speaking at a hurriedly-called press conference at Bilawal House on Friday, Sindh PPP President Syed Qaim Ali Shah alleged that unprecedented and the worst kind of rigging had been witnessed on Thursday. “We reject the results of all the districts,” he said.

He said, “If government wanted to place hand-picked people in these elections, they can do it, but must keep in mind that we would give them tough time and continue to take part in election process to expose the government and its allies. However, we are democratic people and do not want to take law in our hands. The parties in power have totally negated the election process and damaged the sanctity of vote.

Qaim Ali Shah claimed that at many places, new electoral lists, updated after 2002, were not provided. At various other places, stamped ballot papers had been seized, he alleged.

In Jacobabad, he said, ruling party’s MNA Salim Jan Mazari with the help of police force and his supporters stamped all ballot papers at Kandhkot police station. He said when Mr Bijarani, his son and around 3,000 supporters reached at police station the SHO and Saleem Mazari escaped.

He further alleged that false cases were registered against the Awam Dost candidates and their supporters. PPP leader said that same tactics were applied in other areas like Kashmore and Mirpurkhas. “We complained all this to the authorities concerned but none of them heeded to our complaints,” he added.

Referring to Umerkot, he alleged that Chief Minister’s Adviser Jadam Mangrio pulled out our agents and got registered false cases of attempt to murder against them. Our main candidates and workers were arrested, as we were winning 80 per cent seats, he claimed. The situation was not different in other districts including Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar and Mirpurkhas, where rigging was committed by government-backed candidates.

MPA Sassi Palejo, also present at the press conference, said that she was attacked at many poling stations and other places in Thatta allegedly by the agents of Aijaz Shah Sherazi and Shafqat Shah Sherazi. They attacked Awam Dost candidates and supporters, many of whom were admitted to hospitals in serious condition, she alleged.

False FIRs were registered against Awam Dost candidates. “We were threatened of lives by the Sheerazis, who cast bogus votes by stamping ballot papers in Mirpur Sakro, Thatta, and Gharo,” she alleged adding that at Gharo polling station, female candidate Shahnaz Joyo was attacked and was not allowed to cast even her own vote. She was pulled outside the station. Voter list was changed in Shafiabad Gharo, Gujjo, while ballot papers were already stamped,” she added.

Nafees Siddiqui appreciated the firm commitment of PPP workers and lauded the role of media in exposing rigging.

Regarding remarks of President Musharaf that PPP is loosing its base in Sindh, he said that the president should allow Benazir Bhutto to come and participate in the elections, he would understand the vote bank of PPP.—PPI