April 19, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 12, 1429

KARACHI, April 18: A delegation of the EU’s Election Observation Mission called on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mohammad Amin Khattak at Bacha Khan Markaz on Friday and discussed the general elections in the country, especially Sindh.

The delegation comprised Chief EU Observer Michael Gahler (MEP) and Deputy Observer Ms Hannah Roberts.

Mr Khattak apprised the delegation of “massive rigging” and “helplessness of the Election Commission and the caretaker government” during the polling in Karachi. He, however, expressed satisfaction over the EU mission’s final report.

ANP leaders Abdul Qayyum Advocate, Syed Ahmed Khan and Yunus Boneri were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Friday, ANP Sindh chief Shahi Syed demanded reelections under the supervision of the army in those constituencies of Karachi where rigging was reported. “The EU Mission report on Karachi elections endorses ANP’s stand on the issue,” he said.

He congratulated Michael Gahler for compiling a neutral report on the elections in Karachi and handing over a copy to the MQM leadership.

“In NA-241 ANP candidate Zarbali Syed was defeated through rigging by the MQM which had also resorted to rigging in the Defence, Kharadar and Gulistan-i-Jauhar areas,” he claimed.—PPI