BADIN: Large groups of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) activists led by councillors and local leaders took to the streets of Matli on Thursday and blocked several roads for many hours in the morning, prompting the district administration to recommend postponement of polling for the chairman and vice chairman of the Matli municipal committee. The disturbances caused a shutdown across the town.

The polling was scheduled for Thursday after the election commission revoking a decision of the Badin district returning officer under which PPP’s Tanzeela Qambrani and Babu Sabhago Khaskheli were declared the chairperson and vice chairman, respectively, elected unopposed.

The DRO, in his decision, had disqualified independent candidates Abdul Rauf Nizamani and Abdul Rehman, as well as their proposers and seconders.

PPP councillors from various areas of Badin district led groups of PPP activists and supporters, who took to the streets of Matli and blocked various thoroughfares by holding sit-ins and putting up barricades. They lit bonfires at many places to vent their anger over the election commission’s move.

Ms Qambrani also led rally near the polling station, where her supporters held an hours-long sit-in raising slogans against the election commission.

She also spoke to the media and argued against the reversal of the DRO’s decision, insisting that PPP’s rivals had been disqualified and she, along with her vice chairman, had been declared winners.

PPP activists also held protests in other towns of the district, as well as some villages around Matli.

Amid the widespread protests, the district administration and police conveyed to the election commission that they could not ensure safety and security of the election staff and voters. Therefore, they said, the polling be postponed.

Finally, returning officer Imtiaz Ali Kalhoro announced postponement of the polling Meanwhile, Mr Nizamani spoke to local journalists and accused the PPP of sabotaging the polling process by creating a law and order situation in Matli. He demanded action against those responsible for the episode and against police who failed to ensure security for the polling staff and voters.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2016