- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.1
Alerts
Protesting AJK elections: MQM files petition in Sindh High Court
Haider Abbas Rizvi said that the elections are "unconstitutional".
Haider Abbas Rizvi said that the elections are "unconstitutional". PHOTO: QAZI USMAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) filed a petition in the Sindh High Court on Monday against the postponement of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections in Karachi.
The petition was filed against alleged government interference in the elections and the Election Commission’s decision to postpone the elections.
Talking to the media, MQM MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi said that the independent judiciary will keep the facts in mind and grant justice to MQM.
He added that the elections that are being held are “unconstitutional” and said that “no one trusts the election results”.
The federal and Sindh government, along with the IG Sindh have been made parties in the petition.
Former MLA Azad Kashmir Tahir Khokhar filed the petition in which the MQM has requested an urgent hearing of the case.
On Sunday, MQM chief Altaf Hussain had asked the MQM’s Coordination Committee to file petitions in courts seeking to make the elections null and void.
Earlier, the MQM boycotted the AJK elections after they were postponed in Karachi due to security reasons.
Updated from print edition (below)
Govt has stabbed MQM in the back: Altaf
Asking for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections to be declared null and void, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief (MQM) Altaf Hussain said that fresh elections should be held to counter the “autocratic steps” of the government.
While addressing a workers convention across the country a day after elections on seats reserved for Kashmiris in Karachi were postponed, Hussain said: “Despite the fact that the MQM has supported the government in difficult times, it has stabbed us in the back,” he alleged, adding that “June 26 should be observed as a day to mark the dictatorial actions of the present government.”
The MQM nominated President Asif Ali Zardari for the office of the president at a time when no one from his own party was ready to suggest his name and gave unconditional support to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, he said.
Hussain claimed that important leaders from the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) had told the MQM that the elections would be postponed if the party does not agree to let go of one seat.
He said that the MQM had made all preparations and opened party offices in Kashmir and fielded candidates from nearly all constituencies according to the demands of the Kashmiri people. “In the previous elections, the MQM had won two seats and it was expected that the MQM would win more seats this time, he added.
A similar situation happened in 1993 when the then corps commander of Karachi Lt. Gen. (retd) Naseer Akhter tried to browbeat the MQM into accepting four seats, but the MQM had refused to bow down and boycotted the elections, Hussain said.
Altaf Hussain said that a “high-profile” personality from the PPP had promised him that he would never betray the MQM. The MQM now asks him not to go against their party if he cannot support it, he added.
The elections were postponed on the pretext that the Rangers were not ready to provide manpower. If it were really so then “he should have resigned from his position instead of stabbing the MQM in the back.”
He asked the MQM’s Coordination Committee to file petitions in courts seeking to make the elections null and void.
“The government should know there is a bad time ahead because the government has cheated the MQM that stood by it in times of need. Do not forget that it is 2011 and not 1993,” he warned.
The Pakistan People Party meanwhile accused the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz of rigging the elections in Punjab. Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, a close associate of the president, said nine seats for Kashmiris in Punjab were rigged by the district administration.
“The Punjab government had desecrated the sanctity of the electoral process by using district machinery and police for organised rigging,” Wattoo said at a press conference here on Sunday.
“Punjab governor Sardar Latif Khosa tried to contact Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss the situation, but Sharif refused to talk to him,” Wattoo added.
The administration should not have become a tool of the provincial government since it serves the country and not a political party, he said.
Police officials tortured PPP workers and held Presiding Officer Ishtiaq Ahmed hostage to compel him to say that polling had been transparent, Watoo said.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan also said complaints were being received about rigging in different areas of Punjab.
Talking to Pakistan Television, Awan said that PML-N candidates, after seeing a clear defeat resorted to violence at different polling stations in Sialkot and Lahore.
She said PPP and Muslim Conference have decided to go to litigation jointly against PML-N’s AJK election rigging.
Responding to allegations, PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique accused the federal government of trying to rig the AJK election results. “President Asif Ali Zardari is bent upon hijacking the elections,” he said.
Speaking to journalists in Lahore, he warned that if the results are changed, the central government will have to pay a heavy price for it.
Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) also condemned what they called the government’s interference in Kashmir elections. WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP AND QAMAR ZAMAN IN ISLAMABAD.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2011.
Read more:
ajkelection
Related Videos
Reader Comments (28)
Pakistan Latest Stories
Gas leak: Man injured in kitchen fire
Sultan was helping his wife prepare food when kitchen caught fire from gas leaking from a pipe, says Rescue officials.
Irritated: ‘Prank caller’ stabbed
The injured boy was taken to a hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition.
Anti-encroachment: Traders protest against district govt
District government officials said that the shopkeepers had violated the agreement.
Punjab police: Four officers in running to be new IG
Inspector General Aftab Sultan has been transferred to the post of commandant of the National Police Academy.
Custody: Baby handed over to mother
Margaret Bibi had contended that Babar Masih’s parents are not handing the child to her despite repeated requests.
‘Stop the drones’: Hafiz Saeed’s plea put off for a week
Saeed asked the court to declare that pre-emptive strikes by foreign countries are not permitted by international law.
Executive order: CNG banned for over 1,000cc private cars
The direction, which takes effect on May 25, made to stop misuse of the scarce commodity.
Reorganisation: Altaf dissolves MQM’s Karachi Tanzeemi Committee
Altaf directed his party workers to tender apologies to members of the Coordination Commitee.
Enter the dragon: A slew of pacts awaits China’s premier
Li Keqiang’s two-day visit includes a meeting with Nawaz Sharif.
Recent Slideshows
More in Pakistan
Pakistan expels 18 British military trainers
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2013 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
Rehman Malik will run to 90 and all will be fine after that.Recommend
Show some mercy on Apex Court ….They have better work to do than to be bothered by you political parties .
Please play your games in Political arena and if you cant leave your assembly seats , go to masses and fight against this government for your rights .
This Ek Ticket Mein Doa Mazay Should STOP Now .Recommend
Here we go agian.
MQM supremo sends another salvo of blackmail fires at the government.
Ironically he is requesting CJP to take action as if CJP will hand over 2 seats of AJK to the MQM. It was same MQM who was instrumental in confining CJP at the VIP lounge of Karachi airport on 12th May 2007 and then unleashed its goons on the citizens of Karachi who were proceeding to Karachi airport to welcome the same CJP who Altaf Hussain is now requesting to take suo moto action.
I think it is hight time that CJP should take suo moto action on 12th May carnage.
For how long MQM will continue to keep Karachi hostage?Recommend
Tch tch. MQM’s feudal president has betrayed them.Recommend
Rehman Baba to visit London/Karachi soon….Recommend
Not unexpected! With budget passed, MQM just needs to remain in the news and prepare for the next elections. If it had not been this, it would have chose some other pretext.Recommend
why the heck are they supporting the government then? After 3.5 years and countless reconciliations they have realised that PPP gov is worse than dictators??Recommend
I hope Justice is done. And they let CJ into Karachi next time round.
It’s a shame. We have degraded not just ourselves but humanity too!Recommend
HAHAHAHA :D
This is FUNNY.
MQM crying for ONE seat it would’ve got in these elections :DRecommend
So if the Government( party ) in power has stabbed you in the back, please quit the government. Tell your ministers to resign both from Federal Government as well as Sindh Government.
People are now tired of “grand standing” acts.
Just do it……Recommend
Its time for the MQM to see what’s going on in Karachi and Pakistan.
They should wake up and take a stand and quit this government than talk
about the government be-fooling the people.
Don’t understand the reason why they will boycott any election when they already are
part of the government. They are acting like PPP even though the PPP are
running the county, but they will still protest only in Sindh where they have there power
base.
Its like a live TV show or drama that you are always waiting too see what will have next.Recommend
strong text
the absurdity of Pakistani elections knows no limits……..its unbelieable that there are constituencies of Azad Kashmir outside of that regions all over Pakistan…….those that structure the elections process must be third grade lunatics no wonder Pakistan is the way it is……Elections in Azad Kashmir should be held in constituencies of that region only those who are domiciled residents should be on voters list not anyone who maybe a Kashmiri nut lives in Karachi or Lahore or Islamabad…….its an Idiots way of elections but then this is PakistanRecommend
Altaf Hussain must realize now that people of Pakistan are not the same as 20 years ago when he left. They can be scared, coerced but not made to look like fools. Everyone knows he didnt stand a chance beyond one seat (that too of a jagirdar and ex- Raja, the lot he pretends to hate all the time). Its time people wake up and see what MQM is upto!Recommend
MQM claims to be third big political party in Pakistan but they are not enough big to be in opposition. As opposition is an attribute of big parties with big politics but no violence Recommend
They are filing petition against PPP government while they are sitting at treasury benches. Can any MQM supporter explain this drama? Recommend
Coming soon – book your tickets to Nine Zero – Rehman Baba in London and Azizabad – Peacemaker XXVI – Starring Rehman Baba, Peer Altaf Hussain. Script: Mr President. ( A romantic comedy (tragedy))Recommend
thos crying about 12may should go to supreme court and ask apex court to reopen it. it is the right of mqm to go court for justice and mqm critics are also welcome to go to court against mqm if they have proofs against mqm. the world see how ppp and pml n rigged the elections.Recommend
@pak patriot:
The time is not lost. The supreme court should take action on 12th May. Recommend
It is obvious that Altaf Hussain knew that Asif Zardari was due to visit UK on a so-called one of frequent visits on 1st July. He blew hot and cold just in time so that Asif Zardari should visit his so called International Secretariat here in London and use it as another propaganda stunt.
I will not be surprised to see pictures of both great leaders of Pakistan together in London.Recommend
MQM are new to this game they cannot match the guile of PPP abhi bachay hain…
PML-Q and MQM have been used by PPP to gain majority to pass the budget and to carry out other dirty work.
MQM should stop presenting their back to everyone to be in power if they want to stop getting stabbed in the behind again and again.Recommend
so what people are suggesting is that MQM should not go to the court, cuz obviously they represent Mohajirs, and they have lesser rights? or they don’t deserve justice? MQM were expecting 2 definite seats, and PPP wanted one of them, simple as that. As far as leaving the Government is concerned, what good is PML N doing being in the opposition. MQM knows very well that if they leave the government, Karachi will be screwed altogether, both by PPP and PML N. The fact is that there are the two political majorities in Pakistan, PML N and PPP. MQM doesnt go well with PMLN cuz of the love of extra judicial killing that PMLN has got. Parting its way with PPP means MQM is left with nothing to defend in Karachi (considering that army has already been defamed).Recommend
@Pakistani is right to a great extent….this was a marriage of convenience if living in Sindh & fighting with the party in majority…it is nothing to be ashamed off…MQM did the best in the interest of the people of Karachi,Hydrabad etc;…it was a good move…but unfortunately the killings continue because that is what is in the interest of party in power…who is the only beneficiary so as to weaken ANP & MQM…it is not rocket science.
MQM unlike other parties has no other income hence it has to create noise for them to be fed by PPP….why such killings & noise was not there during their last govt ( during Gen Musharraf tenure )because it was their ( MQM ) govt & getting funds to run the show out of which some funds were siphoned-off to keep their party afloat…which is not there today – but they are less corrupt then what is going on today…?? corruption with goverance was there which is totally absent today.Recommend
Its all drama for just 1 or 2 seats of kashmir election.. Why MQM boycott whole election if they were of the view that they can win any more seats as before????
ALTAF bhai please come to pakistan and save your telephone bill as well because its your habit to address whole nation twice a day.
Why don’t your party say any thing over load shedding issue in karachi?? I think MQM will raise their voice in winter season. Recommend
MQM is showing its resentment over Kashmir election and once again against with PPP. MQM have forgotten the problem facing Karachites related to power crises, water shortage, and inflation.
This party lost their credibility. No one trusts on MQM decision. They have many excuses to remain in present govt. Now there is no more sympathy towards MQM. They are liar and want to remain in power. This party is also same as others, and there no difference. All parties are playing politics in the name of Islam and democracy.
This party always says we have no landlord and wadera in our party. For your kind information; no muslim landlord and wadera migrated from India to Pakistan. If there is no mohajir landlord or wadera in mohajir community then how this party says that we have no place of wadera and landlord in party? They are making fool people of Karachi.
In coming election; people must boycott the election campaign and boycott to cast their vote and show the world, specially our political parties that we are not with you. We don’t want your services any more.Recommend
I support the decision of MQM….MQM Zindabad…All the comments against MQM are from big loooooooooooooosers…..:)Recommend
Well done MQM, I am sure such moves will help MQM restore its declining popularity in Pakistan. Recommend
Why don’t you people understand the honesty and sincerity of the MQM. At least they do not rob the poor people of Pakistan. In fact this party is the only hope for a stable Pakistan. All parties should join and encourage this party Otherwise it is doom for Pakistani people.Recommend
Azad Kashmir and that too elections; Recommend