KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Thursday said it was not going to withdraw its candidate in any party’s favour for the NA-246 by-poll, rejecting speculation about their understanding with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to this effect.

Speaking at a press conference at an election camp set up by the party in Naseerabad, Federal B. Area, Karachi JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman repeated the demand for biometric verification system in NA-246 by-poll and transparency in the printing process of ballot papers.

Read: Karachi's NA-246 by-poll: A three-way contest

“The JI and PTI leaderships had demanded installation of a biometric system for the NA-246 by-poll, but the Sindh government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement expressed their reservation, lending strength to our concerns about transparency,” he said.

“We also expect deployment of Rangers personnel in and around the polling stations. The administration and law enforcement agencies must stay alert as Karachi has a history of rigging in elections and polling is going to set a precedent if by-polls are held in a free and fair manner.”

He said the party was busy making preparations for a women rally on Friday and then a ‘massive rally’ on April 20, which would be led by JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq.

The MQM saw the attempts to make NA-246 results controversial but the party said it would never let such elements succeed.

While addressing corner meetings at the Federal C Area block 6 and Liaquatabad No 8, MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jameel said the other contesting parties were deliberately creating issues to catch media attention and malign the Muttahida.

Meanwhile, the party’s coordination committee in a separate statement showed serious concerns over recent killings in Karachi and law and order situation of the city.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2015

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