KARACHI, July 9: The Pakistan People’s Party, Karachi division, has expressed its grave concern over the alleged pre-poll rigging in Azad Jammu Kashmir and demanded the Election Commission to take notice of such activities by the government.
PPP city chief Rashid Rabbani, addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, alleged that pre-poll rigging was in full swing and Kashmiri people were being forced to cast vote in favour of the candidate fielded by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Ikhtiar Khaukar.PPP candidates, Mohammad Iqbal Kashmiri (LA-36) and Dr Ahsan Masood (LA-30) were also present at the press conference.
Mr Rabbani charged that polling stations were prepared under the supervision and on the instructions of a member of the Sindh cabinet. “This minister has ordered his party activists to stuff ballot boxes with fake votes before start of the polling,” he alleged.
He said that the MQM had planned to attack polling stations between 3pm and 5pm during which they would fill up ballots boxes whereas the 5,000 policemen to be deployed on the day were under the direct control of the home minister belonging to the MQM.
PPP’s media secretary Waqar Mehdi told journalists that the Chief Election Commissioner should also take notice of the ‘illegal changes’ in polling stations.
He said that Kashmiri voters’ identity cards were being obtained by a party on the promise of financial assistance from the earthquake relief funds for their areas. He feared that these cards would be used for bogus voting. Iqbal Kashmiri claimed that about 1,200 identity cards had already been taken away for the purpose. Dr Ahsan pointed out that 5 out of a total of 27 MQM candidates in Azad Kashmir had already withdrawn.
The PPP leaders demanded deployment of army personnel instead of Rangers and police to check bogus voting.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party, Sindh, Nafees Ahmed Siddiqui has condemned continued detention of PPP workers, including Mohammad Khan Lund, in Tharparkar, and asked the local administration to stop obeying the government’s ‘illegal’ orders.
In a press statement issued here Saturday, he deplored that Mohammad Khan Lund had been got arrested for the 41st time last month by the Arbab group.
Mr Siddiqui also condemned that media people in Thar district had been subjected to threats of dire consequences for daring to report anything in favour of Mr Lund.
Senior party leader Jam Saqi, as well as Arbab Murad Ali, Mohan Lal Meghwar and some other people were also implicated in the case. Mr Lund was on Saturday produced before a magistrate in Mithi who extended his bail plea to July 11. Police did not allow any journalist to meet Mr Lund.
Mr Siddiqui demanded immediate release of Mr Lund and other party workers.—PPI
