SHIKARPUR, May 20: PPP’s unofficially elected candidate for NA-202 Shikarpur-I Aftab Shahban Mirani has alleged his rival NPP candidate Dr Ibrahim Jatoi and NPP candidate for PS-12 Abid Jatoi of being involved in rigging for trying to cast bogus votes without official stamps, signature of officer, and thumb impression of voter during re-polling held at 18 polling stations of NA-202 Shikarpur-I and on 17 stations for PS-12 on May 17.

Speaking at a news conference here on Tuesday, Mr Mirani refuted the allegations of Dr Jatoi that the PPP candidates with the help of ministers, MNAs, MPAs and party leaders created harassment among voters by the deployment of police and Rangers at every polling station.

On the other hand, Mr Mirani said, Jatoi tribesmen attacked PPP polling agents, ministers, MNAs, MPAs and leaders at male and female polling stations when the NPP voters restrained from casting votes ‘on the basis of fake NICS.’

Mr Mirani said six vehicles of candidate for PS-12 Agha Arsalan and other MNAs, MPAs and PPP leaders were damaged in attacks with bricks, stones, sticks and firing at Haji Khan Kalhoro, Kot Shahoo and other polling stations. Three PPP agents were beaten and their mobile sets and cash taken away, he added.

Besides, MNA Mahreen Bhutto and other women polling agents were looted and beaten up at Ali Hassan Jatoi, Kot Shahoo and other polling stations.

He said these illegal practices and clashes created disturbances in polling process and compelled the staff to accept their bogus votes in favour of the NPP candidate Dr Muhammad Ibrahim Jatoi as voters were under their influence.

He said on May 17, Dr Jatoi secured 9,653 votes and he (Mr Mirani) obtained 109 votes at all 18 polling stations. Thus Dr Jatoi received 98 per cent of the polled votes, while Mr Mirani only 1.1 per cent.

At PS-171 – Napierabad, counting of votes took place at the RO office due to severe violence at the polling station. Out of 657 polled votes, 330 were rejected as they did not bear official stamps, signature of officer and thumb impression of voter. Mr Mirani received no votes. While the rejected votes were more than 50 per cent of polled votes, he informed.

He said if counting at other polling stations had taken place in a similar manner, Dr Jatoi’s total votes would not have been more than 3,500 in all the above polling stations.

In re-polling for PS-12 Shikarpur-IV NPP candidate Abid Jatoi received 9,638 votes at above polling stations, while PPP candidate Arsalan Khan received only 99 votes.If there was rigging by the PPP candidates, Agha Arsalan would have won the elections, he said.Mr Mirani complained that some supporters of the Jatois riding in a Suzuki van came outside Mirani House and opened fire to create fear and harassment on Sunday. He demanded of police and district administration to take serious notice of the matter.

In general elections on February 18, the PPP candidate Aftab Shaban Mirani was defeated as he obtained 47,775 votes. While his rival NPP candidate Dr Ibrahim Jatoi was elected by securing 53,752 votes. But this result was challenged in the apex court which ordered re-polling at 17 polling stations.

As per unofficial results of re-polling on 17 polling stations for NA-202 Shikarpur-I, Mr Mirani obtained 701 votes and Dr Jatoi secured 9,655 votes. The result of one polling station, Sahib Khan, Badani was withheld.

While compiling previous results of general elections and fresh results of re-polling PPP-P candidate for NA-202 Shikarpur-I Aftab Shaban Mirani was unofficially declared elected by obtaining 47,346 votes in grand total including the votes 701 in re-polling with a lead of 6,577 votes. His rival Dr Jatoi was defeated as he got 40,769 votes, including 9,655 votes obtained by him in re-polling for NA-202 Shikarpur-I.