Election tribunal given until Oct 25 to decide Karachi rigging

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Election tribunal given until Oct 25 to decide Karachi rigging

Dawn.com Published October 8, 2013

KARACHI: Following revelation of the NADRA report regarding likely poll rigging on a massive scale in a Karachi constituency, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday directed an election tribunal to decide the matter until October 25, DawnNews reported.

A National Database and Registration Authority report submitted to an election tribunal on Monday revealed only 6,815 of the total 84,748 ballots sent to Nadra for verification, of certain polling stations in NA-256 constituency could be successfully authenticated.

It said the thumb impressions on 57,642 ballots could not be compared or matched through the Nadra system due to poor quality of the fingerprints.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movements (MQM) candidate, Iqbal Muhammad Khan had won the seat. Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Zubair Khan later challenged the poll result, saying it was rigged.

Reacting on the matter, central leader of MQM and Sindh MPA, Faisal Sabzwari said rigging allegations were continuation of political victimisation aimed at his party.

Speaking to media representatives at MQM’s headquarters “Nine-Zero” in Karachi, he said Nadra’s verification report for NA-256 was similar to an earlier report for NA-258 constituency. Despite similarity in the two reports, why election in NA-256 was being branded as rigged only, he questioned.

Explaining difference between unverified and counterfeit ballots, Sabzwari said majority of ballots from the constituency were unverified due to poor quality of paper and magnetic ink. “Providing ballot papers and ink of a good quality was not MQM’s responsibility,” he added.

The MQM leader reiterated the party stance that its mandate in the port city was being attacked. He demanded for ballot verification across the country.

MQM’s winning candidate from NA-256 Iqbal Muhammad Ali, party leaders Asif Hasnain and Wasim Akhtar among others flanked Sabzwari during the media interaction.

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Dawar Naqvu

Oct 08, 2013 09:04pm

Very True. Recently MQM won bye elections under the supervision of Army. MQM mandate in the port city was being attacked. We demanded for ballot verification across the country.

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Nadim

Oct 08, 2013 10:15pm

Ban this party from the contest. What other proof do you need ? They are cheat & liars

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Guest63

Oct 08, 2013 10:56pm

In the Eyes of MQM driven by the so called Sector Command structure , Only They are Right and on true Path , the rest of the country and every institution big or small relevant or irrelevant , are out there to victimize and snatch their so called Public mandate , a self proclaimed champions of the people ...... if they see every body wrong and out to get them , then there is some thing wrong with them too , the logic would demand that sort of self analysis too from themselves

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ebrahim

Oct 08, 2013 11:13pm

You should be ashamed of your self and resign every kid of Karachi that MQM rigged the election

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M Rafique

Oct 08, 2013 11:41pm

Sabzwari Saheb, how these unverified ballots, due to poor quality of paper and magnetic ink, are casted in favour of MQM candidate. The demand for ballot verification across the country is very appropriate and it is to start from the constituency from where Mr. Sabswari ( Provincial Assembly) and Mr. Muzammil Qureshi ( National Assembly) have won the election.

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imran sheikh

Oct 08, 2013 11:48pm

Completely disgusting how even now those who are rejected by the voters have such a lack of self respect that instead of apologising and resigning, and then perhaps committing seppuku quietly, they call press conferences presenting themselves as victims. Different parties should offer different approaches to the same goal, i.e. betterment of the country, instead of a power grab for personal benefit of a minority. Those who are only literate without education and with no background of service to humanity simply will not understand this.

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Shahid

Oct 08, 2013 11:47pm

This isnt political victimization Mr. Sabzwari, this is the moment of truth. Inshallah justice will prevail.

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edwardian

Oct 08, 2013 11:53pm

Truly Sharam-naak

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BOBY

Oct 09, 2013 01:17am

NA-256 is another incident of MQM's boorish activities after apprehending of the militants of their party during ongoing operation in the city. Everybody is familiar about the heinous practices within the Karachi that has put the law and order situation of a cosmopolitan city at the stake.MQM is only sole party that may better the conditions of the Karachi otherwise military operation is solution while PPP-government cannot tackle out the city of lightning from such crisis because it is only power seeker party in the province and it has nothing to do with peace in the city.This time its federal government who has taken remarkable steps to resolve the problems of karachities through joint venture of the sindh government.It is hoped karachi will see peace in future.

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Omar

Oct 09, 2013 04:33am

MQM style is like this: Someone kills its own family and then claims in court that he is a victim as he has become an orphan.

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ali ahmed

Oct 09, 2013 01:13pm

All rigging was done only and only in Karachi. Politics of rest of the country is quite mature and no rigging is done anywhere else.

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