QUETTA, Oct 13: A tribal elder of the Marri tribes, Mir Shoukat Ali Marri, has demanded re-election in the constituency of PB-23 (Kohlu). Kohlu Agency comprises three sub-divisions: Kohlu, Mawand and Kahan.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, he said that his uncle Mir Mohabbat Khan Marri was a candidate for the seat in PB-23 against Balach Khan Marri, son of Nawab Khair Bukhsh Marri.

He claimed said that 14,000 out of 15,500 votes had been cast in favour of his uncle in Kohlu and Mawand sub-divisions while Mir Balach Khan Marri had polled only 1,500 votes in the two sub-divisions.

But, he alleged, armed men of Mir Balach had cast 12,000 votes later and rigged the process in the sub-divisions.

He told the newsmen that the presiding officer (PO) and assistant POs concerned had also informed the election authorities in writing about the rigging.

Shoukat Ali also alleged that the polling agents of Mohabbat Khan had not been allowed in the poling stations of Kahan sub-division and returned by the Frontier corps personnel.

He said that despite all these facts, the Election Commission had declared Balach Khan elected from the constituency, which was injustice.

The tribal leader said that when people of Kohlu had protested over the rigging, the law enforcing agencies had arrested Mir Mohabbat Khan Marri and his hundreds of supporters.

Mr Shoukat demanded of the chief election commissioner to take notice of the situation and order re-polling on PB-23 (Kohlu).