KARACHI, July 27: Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, a central leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, has stated that although Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the chief election commissioner have repeatedly been giving assurances about free, fair and transparent local government elections, the ground reality so far as Karachi and some other areas are concerned do not match with the assurances.

Prof Ghafoor, who is also Naib Amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, was addressing a crowded press conference at the Idara Noor-i-Haq here on Wednesday.

Reiterating the MMA and JI stand that free and fair election in Sindh was possible only if the provincial government remained neutral, he pointed out that the coalition and the governor had been mobilizing all the official resources in giving a boost to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Accompanied by MNA Asadullah Bhutto, Hafiz Mohammad Taqi, Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, Birjees Ahmad and Sarfraz, the MMA leader demanded immediate removal of the governor, provincial home minister and adviser on local bodies from their positions, saying that in their presence the holding of free and fair election was impossible.

“All our apprehensions pertaining to the MQM’s resorting to terrorism, victimization of opposition candidates and the government’s act of influencing the local government election have come true,” he claimed.

Prof Ghafoor distributed among the journalists present thee some photographs and a list of local government offices in MQM’s control, and said this was a proof that the MQM had been occupying the offices, parks and playgrounds, as well as official vehicles. Portraits of Altaf Hussain had been displayed and flags of MQM hoisted at these places which had now been converted in that party’s coordination offices, he alleged.

He urged Gen Musharraf, the prime minister and chief election commissioner to explain that under which rule, the MQM had been allowed to occupy the places and vehicles and use them in their election drive.

He pointed out that all symbols belonging to political parties had been deleted from the list of election symbols but the symbol of ‘kite’ was still there.

Prof Ghafoor Ahmed demanded arrest of all those involved in the incident of firing at the residence of MMA Sindh chief MNA Asadullah Bhutto.

Asadullah Bhutto said that despite such attacks, the opposition would fully participate in the election.

Hafiz Mohammad Taqi said that the DG Rangers, during his meeting with the MMA, had agreed that election should be held in the supervision of army, which should be posted within the vicinities of polling stations as polling in an atmosphere of fear and terror would be meaningless.