HYDERABAD: Leaders of the ‘Jamshoro Alliance’ who had contested against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Malik Asad Sikandar and others have claimed that their supporters are being harassed since the end of the July 25 election, recalling that Malik’s men had resorted to firing in Kotri late Wednesday evening when counting of votes was under way.

They demanded recounting of votes in the PS-82 constituency from where the Malik won, arguing that recounting in various other constituencies of Sindh was being done.

The alliance leaders, Dr Sikandar Shoro, who has lost to Malik Asad Sikandar on PS-82, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, the Sindh United Party convener who lost to former Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on PS-80 and Sikandar Rahupoto on NA-233, alleged at a press conference at Shoro House in Kotri on Friday that the results in these constituencies were changed.

Dr Shoro said that there were several polling stations where results were changed in favour of Malik Asad Sikandar. He said that he had been held hostage within his house on Wednesday evening as Malik’s men had resorted to firing outside. He said two sons of his [Dr Shoro’s] supporter, Badshah Memon, were attacked by Malik’s men outside the polling station set up at the Govt Boys High School in Kotri. Memon’s sons, Ahsan and Awais, were injured in the attack, Dr Shoro said, and pointed to the victims who were present along with their father at the press conference.

Dr Shoro told reporters that the recounting [in his constituency] was fixed for Saturday but now he was asked by the returning officer concerned to appear before him to satisfy him why it was necessary. He stated that at some polling stations, Form 45, which is the statement of count, was either not given or the results it showed appeared different from what was given to his polling agents.

Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah said that recounting in the PS-82 constituency was necessary but it seemed that the RO concerned was reluctant to go for it. He said that in Sehwan, where he had contested against Syed Murad Ali Shah, he had handed over some people involved in tampering with ballots, yet no action was taken against them.

He said he had submitted a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He said that law and order in Kotri had become a serious issue since late Wednesday evening. “Armed men of Malik Asad had taken to the streets on that evening and manhandled supporters of Dr Shoro. These hoodlums also resorted to firing at Dr Shoro’s house. Police didn’t arrest them but Dr Shoro was made to stay indoors as if his was placed under house arrest while Malik was allowed to do what he wanted.”

Mr Shah said that at some particular polling stations, the presiding officers had left the premises without handing over results to polling agents and staff. Later, he added, some of them returned and some others remained missing.

He further said Dr Shoro was not able to take his complaints to the competent authorities as he remained confined to his house. He alleged that the district administration had played a partisan role. The district returning officer, deputy commissioner and SSP were informed about these issues but they appeared helpless, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018