September 1, 2005	Thursday	Rajab 26, 1426

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PESHAWAR, Aug 31: People belonging to Sheikh Junaidabad Union Council staged a protest demonstration on Wednesday in front of the Governor House and submitted a memorandum demanding re-election.

Scores of women and men led by defeated candidates, including Shamsur Rehman, Shah Nawaz, Saeedur Rehman Safi and Azizur Rehman of union council No 37, Peshawar, marched towards the Governor House and staged a sit-in in front of it.

The protesters wanted to meet the governor, but police did not allow them.

Speaking on the occasion, they said that about 12,000 votes had been polled in their council, but the nazim and naib nazim were declared elected by getting 436 and 316 votes, respectively.

They submitted the memorandum to the Governor House, requesting to declare the election results null and void and disqualify the winners for 10 years.

According to them, women had been deprived of their right to franchise, which was against the election code of conduct.

They said Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao was responsible for the rigging. The minister wanted to secure the victory of his party’s candidate, they added.

The protestors asked President Pervez Musharraf to dismiss the interior minister for the rigging and order re-election in the union council.

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