KARACHI, Aug 27: The Pakistan Peoples Party (Sindh chapter) on Saturday demanded re-polling in the province owning to rigging and abuse of state power against the PPP and other opposition parties, and declared that from Aug 31, it would launch a series of protest rallies in the province, starting from Karachi.

This was stated by the provincial chief of the PPP, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, at a press conference. Taj Hiader, Dr Fahmida Mirza, Waqar Mehdi, Rashid Rabbani, Jameel Soomro, Nafees Siddiqui, General Secretary PPP Sindh and Ejaz Durrani were also present.

Giving details of the protest rallies, Mr Shah said on Sept 1 Sukkur would be the venue, while on Sept 2, rallies would be held in Larkana and Mirpurkhas. Similarly, protests would be held in Hyderabad on Sept 3 and on 4.

He said that the ARD and other political parties would also be invited to join the protest against rigging and manipulated elections and killing of innocent people.

Mr Shah reiterated allegations of massive rigging and state terrorism in the two phases of the local body elections in which PPP-backed Awam Dost candidates and activists were killed and injured across the province.

He also demanded that besides ordering re-election in Sindh, the government must withdraw cases against ADP candidates and their supporters and release those detained in fake cases.

Mr Shah said that at 98 per cent of polling stations, the coalition partners indulged in rigging while police and other law-enforcement agencies supported the government-backed candidates.

Mr Shah also criticized the Chief Election Commissioner for not acting promptly on complaints about killing of seven people during elections.

He said that recovery of stamped ballot papers from many constituencies across the province was a proof of official manipulations.

He took exception to CEC’s remarks on killings and said such a statement was contrary to the facts and only demonstrates his partisan approach.