SUKKUR, Aug 29: Central leader of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, MNA Khursheed Shah, has alleged massive rigging during the second phase of the local body elections. Terming the elections fraud, he demanded immediate resignation of the chief election commissioner.

In a press statement issued here on Monday, Khursheed Shah said during these elections worst-ever rigging was committed which disappointed the people and shattered their confidence in the election process.

He stressed the need to restore people’s confidence by giving importance to their viewpoint.

He alleged that the code of conduct formulated by the Election Commission was enforced only on the opposition while the government and its allied groups openly violated it.

Though MNAs and MPAs were allowed to contest elections for nazims but were barred from visiting polling stations.

He termed it double standard which added to the malpractices.

He said despite all this, the chief election commissioner was terming the elections as free, fair and transparent.

He said the election commission in the country was not independent and impartial, rather it has become a state-run institution.

He said in India the election commissioner enjoys more powers than the prime minister.

Mr Shah said “we were expecting to bag 38 out of 46 union councils of Sukkur, but our hopes dashed due to ‘organized rigging’ Our men were kidnapped and tortured, ballot boxes were snatched, polling stations were taken over and fake votes were cast.

He alleged that late night stamping of ballot papers continued in various areas including, Arore, Ali Wahan, Pano Akil, Salehpat, Rohri and Kandhra, where police officials cast bogus votes, while result of Arore and Ali Wahan polling stations was announced on Monday.

nasir shah: A meeting of government allied parties including Pakistan Muslim League, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and PML-F, was held at the residence of former Sukkur district nazim, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah in Rohri on Monday.

Sardar Haji Khan Chachar, Taj Mohammad Sheikh, Ali Mohammad Mahar, Ali Bux Mahar, Zahid Shah of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), Samoon Khan Bhambhro, MQM leader Saleem Bandhani, Muttahida zonal organizer Feroz Khanzada, Advisor to Sindh chief minister Nusrat Aziz, Ashfaq Mangi and Senator Mohammad Ali Brohi attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed at length the names of nazims, naib nazims and taluka nazims for the third phase of the local body elections.

The meeting unanimously nominated Syed Nasir Hussain Shah as the candidate for district nazim of Sukkur. The names of naib nazims could not be finalized.

The meeting said that all government allied parties would be given representation at the district and taluka levels.