JI announces election boycott in Karachi, Hyderabad

Party announces of staging a sit-in outside ECP office at 5pm.

KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) announced of boycotting elections in Karachi and Hyderabad alleging that rigging was taking place across the cities.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, JI ameer Munawar Hassan alleged that massive rigging was taking place in the two cities.

The party also announced of staging a sit-in outside the Election Commission's office at 5pm.

"Rigging is taking place at every polling station," said a party leader, adding that a JI worker Rao Mujahid was kidnapped around two hours ago from NA-256 constituency and still remains missing. "Three other boys were beaten up," he added.

The JI chief said that in several polling stations in Hyderabad, JI workers were being forced out of polling stations while the election officials also arrived hours later than the scheduled time.

The JI chief held the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) responsible for all alleged rigging taking place in the two cities. “All those forces who backed the MQM did not do Pakistan a favour. They dug a grave against Pakistan and democracy,” he said.

“We want to tell those forces: don’t take side with terrorists only for a few votes,” he added.

The party also announced of holding a strike on May 13.