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HYDERABAD, Aug 22: People’s Party Parliamentarians leader from Sanghar district Abdul Salam Thaheem has accused the authorities of failing to conduct the local body elections in fair manner. He was speaking at a news conference along with the PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel candidates.
He said the ADP candidates had been pressurized to withdraw their nomination papers before the elections and when they refused they were threatened by the authorities. The PPP leader said a large number of polling stations were established in thinly-populated areas by the authorities to make cheating easier during the polls.
He said dishonest staff and police were posted at polling stations including a lady teacher who was not a government servant.
Mr Thaheem said a large number of PPP activists were arrested and were still languishing in police lock-ups.
He said one voter was given 100 ballot papers to stuff the ballot boxes in the presence of helpless presiding officers.
He said judiciary was the only hope in such situation but even it looked helpless before the administration.
He said people were losing faith in democracy and it would be much better to nominate people in local bodies rather than conducting farce elections.
HARASSMENT ALLEGED: The Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) supported Faqir Dost Panel of Latifabad Union Council-2 accused the activists of the Haq Parast Group of harassing their candidates.
Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Monday, the patron of the Faqir Dost Panel, Niaz Ahmed, nazim and naib nazim candidates Saeed Nawaz and Shaukat Ali, general councillor candidates Ajmal Khan and Hanif Rajput, and woman councillor candidate Haseena Khatoon alleged that activists of the HPG were threatening candidates of the FDP to withdraw from the polls.
They said workers of the FDP informed police when ten armed activists of the Muttahida had torn their handbills and badges on Sunday.
They appealed to the chief election commissioner, the army and Rangers to take control of polling stations of Latifabad UC-2 to ensure fair elections on August 25.
