KARACHI, July 29: The city chapter of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has urged the election commission to take notice of, what it called, “violation of the code of conduct and interference by the government in the local government election,” and maintained that holding of peaceful, transparent and fair election was possible only if the governor, home minister and adviser on local government were removed immediately.

Office-bearers of the MMA Karachi were addressing a protest rally held after Juma prayers in Moosa Lane, Lyari. They also deplored the coalition parties for using official vehicles and occupying local government offices, parks and schools in the election campaign for the pro-government candidates.

“The candidates contesting against the MQM nominees are being threatened and forced to withdraw from the contest while the local government offices, public places and official vehicles have been turned into election offices of the MQM,” they deplored.

Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui told the demonstrators, who were holding banners and placards in their hands and raising slogans in support of MMA’s demands, said that free and fair election was not possible until and unless the MQM was removed from the coalition and the governor, home minister and adviser on local government from their posts.

He accused the MQM of indulging in illegal and unethical activities to hijack public opinion.

Deploring the recent incident of firing at the residence of Jamaat-i-Islami’s Naib Amir Asadullah Bhutto, Dr Siddiqui said the attack was an attempt to harass MMA and was a part of the plan to get government-backed candidates elected through such coercive measures.

He maintained that if the use of state machinery and resources in election campaign, as well as the government’s interference, was not stopped forthwith, the whole election process would become meaningless.

Hafiz Mohammad Taqi said that all the tactics that the ruling clique had resorted to were aimed at ensuring desired results in the election. However, he said, such tactics could not deter MMA leadership and workers from their mission. He declared that the peaceful struggle by MMA would continue despite all odds.

MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehanti said that despite repeated assurances from the president, prime minister and election commission about the government’s intention to hold free, fair and transparent election, there was no change in ground reality, which suggested that the government was not neutral and the EC had failed to allay the opposition’s apprehensions of massive rigging.