KARACHI – Several political and religious parties have started a campaign for a three-day sit-in from January 26, outside the office of the provincial election commission (PEC), against the ongoing voters’ verification in the city without army personnel.
Leaders of various political and religious parties reached the camp office established for the sit-in outside the provincial election commission office and staged a protest against voters’ verification without presence of army and the CEC’s statement that Karachi delimitation could not be carried out before polls. They revealed the 3-day sit-in would start from Jan 26 at 3pm and end after the sunset. They were of the view that the chief election commissioner (CEC) should take decision in favour of the citizens of the city without the pressure of any party.
JI Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mahenti, Saleem Zia of PML-N, Nadir Akmal Leghari of PTI, Umer Sadiq of JUI-F, Mehfooz Yar Khan of AML, Mazhar Rahoja of Awami Tehreek, Mustaqeem Noorani of JUP, Matloob Awan of ST, Irfanullah Marwat of PML-N and others spoke on the occasion.
Muhammad Hussain Mahenti said the electoral process was being hijacked for 25 years by a political party. He said the SC order was being violated as the electoral rolls were once again being prepared in the offices of that party. “The Election Commission is responsible for the ongoing target killings and extortions as such type of incidents are occurring due to the fake mandate,” Mahenti added.
Talking to media people, Mahenti said the sit-in would be extended to Islamabad and other cities of the country. “Through a conspiracy, Pakistan Army is being involved in a so-called war on terrorism by some anti-state elements while Karachi is being affected truly by terrorism,” he added.
Saleem Zia said the appointment of Fakruddin G Ibrahim as the chief election commissioner (CEC) could pave the way of free, fair and transparent elections, but unfortunately, the CEC was yielding to the MQM pressure.
Maulana Umer Sadiq said the opposition parties were ready to sacrifice for the sake of rectification of electoral rolls, adding the CEC should stand by the people of the city. Irfanullah Marwat said the SC verdict was not being implemented in its true spirit and voters’ verification was being conducted in the absence of army personnel.
Mustaqeem Noorani said each and every party had reposed full trust in the ECP, so it should refrain from favouring a particular party of Karachi. Mehfooz Yar Khan welcomed the CEC order banning recruitments on political basis in government departments. Matloob Awan said political and religious parties had announced a war against the attitude of the Election Commission of Pakistan and ongoing voters’ verification, by setting up a protest camp in front of the PEC office.