KARACHI, Feb 14: The participants of an Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) rally organised on Wednesday, protested against what they alleged was rigging in the February 10 by-election. They called for a new election commission. They said the new EC be set up with the consensus of all opposition parties and a neutral government be installed to hold fair and transparent general election.

A large number of people, including women, participated in the rally. The protestors marched from Regal Chowk to the provincial election commissioner’s office

The protesters — mostly leaders and workers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and some from Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Awami National Party, Sunni Tehrik and other components of the ARD chanted slogans against President General Pervez Musharraf, army officers, federal and provincial governments, the Sindh chief minister and the Election Commission of Pakistan. Some of the participants blocked the main gate of the heavily-guarded provincial election commission. However, their leaders asked them to join the others who had stopped in front of an adjacent building housing the offices of an intelligence agency.

The ARD leaders rejected the present election commission and observed that free, fair and impartial election was not possible under this EC and government, and demanded setting up of an independent election commission and a government of national consensus to hold the next general election.

Speaking on the occasion, ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim said the ARD contested the by-election despite the fact that this election commission was constituted without consulting the opposition. He said rigging and atrocities by the ruling coalition during the by-polls in Sindh made it clear that the election commission had no writ.

Mr Fahim said the party was preparing for the next general election and with the announcement of election schedule, the party would announce the schedule of return of Benazir Bhutto. He warned that in case of rigging, the party would exercise all options, including boycott of the general election.

Leader of Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said holding of free and transparent election under this election commission and government was impossible. He also demanded a new election commission be set up in consultation with all opposition parties and a neutral administration in the provinces.

He also demanded the suspension of the local bodies across the country three months before the general election to ensure they don’t influence the election in favour of the ruling parties.

MNA Sherry Rehman demanded the election commission declare the by-elections on NA-250 and PS-71 void and called for re-polling in both constituencies.

PPP leaders Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Fahmida Mirza, PML-N leader Salim Zia and others also spoke on the occasion. Later, the participants dispersed peacefully.

Stringent security arrangements were taken at Regal Chowk and the provincial election commission offices. Police placed barricades on a portion of the road before the main gate of the election commission.