KARACHI, July 11: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Tuesday complained of “massive rigging” in balloting throughout the country, except the Sindh province, where it claimed that people cast vote for its candidates in an orderly manner.

This was stated by the joint in charge of the MQM coordination committee Abdul Haseeb while addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club.

MQM candidates for the two AJK legislative seats, Tahir Khokhar and Saleem Butt were also present.

He accused the religious parties of widespread rigging in the AJK, the NWFP and Punjab, where MQM workers were forcibly evicted from the polling stations.

He condemned the Muslim Conference and MMA for boycotting the polls in Karachi and said the turnout at polling stations in Karachi proved that Kashmiris in the city caste their vote with zeal and enthusiasm.

Abdul Haseeb said that the boycott of polls in Karachi by the MMA and the Muslim Conference was tantamount to accepting their defeat.

He demanded President Musharraf and Chief Election Commissioner to take notice of the rigging in Azad Jammu Kashmir, Punjab and the NWFP and order an inquiry. Besides, he said that election results in these areas should be rejected.

He alleged that MQM supporters were kidnapped and harassed by the Muslim Conference and MMA supporters in many areas.

He further alleged that Jamaat-i-Islami, which had never been elected there except once from Bagh, levelled baseless allegations against the MQM as the JI was scared of Muttahida’s growing popularity.

Abdul Haseeb said that the MQM had participated in Azad Kashmir polls on the wishes of Kashmiris, as they wanted abolition of outdated feudal system from Kashmir. He said that in testing time of earthquake the MQM served the people without any prejudices and people knew that MQM was the only party which served the people.