KARACHI, July 18: Chief of the Sunni Tehrik Mohammad Abbas Qadri has demanded reopening of ‘no-go areas for his party’ in order to make the upcoming local bodies elections free, fair and transparent. In a statement issued here on Monday, he conveyed to the president, prime minister, interior minister and the acting chief election commissioner that without dismantling the no-go areas, the claim of transparent elections would be a farce.

The Sunni Tehrik accused the government of arresting its activists, including women, and misusing public money for protecting the interests of the coalition parties.

PPP: The Pakistan People’s Party on Monday rejected the government’s promise to hold the local government elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. It alleged that the regime was planning to hijack the polls.

“The regime is openly misusing government funds and machinery for abducting, torturing and coercing opposition supporters to have “the same kind of free, fair, and transparent elections it had held in Thatta and Attock to get Prime Minister Mr Shaukat Aziz elected in by-elections,” said leader of the opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani at a news conference at the Sindh Assembly building.

Al-Khidmat group: Former UC nazims belonging to the Al-Khidmat Group on Monday appealed to the chief election commissioner and provincial election commissioners to restrain Muttahida Qaumi Movement legislators from interfering in the local government affairs in Karachi, adds PPI.

In a statement, the group alleged that the MQM legislators participating in the forthcoming local bodies election campaign were exerting pressure on the caretakers of union and town councils to get the work on various projects completed.

They expressed apprehension about holding of transparent and peaceful local bodies poll in Sindh if such interference in the functions of local bodies were kept continuing.

They appealed to the election commission to take notice of the legislators and ensure implementation of the relevant code of conduct in its true spirit.