Karachi takes to the streets after alleged rigging in general elections. PHOTO: @ZAWARMAS
Karachi protest
May 11 saw delays in polling at various stations at NA-250, the largest constituency of Karachi. Voters waited for hours under the scorching sun as polling, reportedly, continued at a snail’s pace.
The PTI supporters in Karachi held a protest at Teen Talwar in Clifton on the very next day of general elections.
Female supporters comprised a large percentage of the protesters.
The group continued to chant slogans in favour of the PTI chairman Imran Khan and the PTI candidate contesting from NA-250, Arif Alvi.
Later on Sunday evening, unknown assailants reportedly fired on the crowd, injuring at least two people.
Lahore protest
A fight broke out between PTI and PML-N supporters when the former gathered at Lalak chowk in Lahore to protest alleged rigging by the latter at NA-125.
The protesters alleged that PML-N candidate Saad Rafiq won the seat through rigging.
Police arrived at the area, baton charged the protesters and opened the blocked streets.
MQM's response
“I don’t want a fight but if I order my supporters then they will make a better use of the three swords [teen talwar],” Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain warned the PTI protesters.
He was addressing MQM party workers and supporters in a telephonic address.
“I request you to go ahead with a peaceful protest against rigging allegations,” Hussain advised his followers. “But I will rally my supporters if the protest against us continues.”
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The PTI failed to understand ground realities and were unduly over exited but seeing the unfavorable results, the Barmuda class is up on heals. If there is any genuine complaint, it must be tackled through legal means which is the civilized way and no one should disturb the life of common citizens with their biased view/myth.
WAKE UP PAKISTAN!
http://tribune.com.pk/story/548262/pakistan-polls-relatively-fair-despite-irregularities/
“Out of 3,500 polling stations checked so far, nearly 700 reported irregularities.”
Out of 3,500, SEVEN HUNDRED. How is that normal? How is that free and fair? Why are we in denial?
Look at this:
https://www.facebook.com/daaneyaljawaid/posts/10151653560678708
Clear evidence of rigging. Rigging videos are also all over the internet.
Why are we such apologists? No one is saying PTI would have won, but they have definitely lost crucial seats because of these shenanigans! Come out of your homes. Not for PTI, but for your right as Pakistanis to vote!
Im from NA125 (Cantt). There PTI had the most strongest support, but Saad Rafique of PNLN completely rigged it without any doubt and everybody knows it. If somebody from EPC or Media goes right now they can see how much people are shocked by it.
One important piece of news about rigging that everybody seems to miss that on 11 May, at around 11.30 pm, Express News announced the news that Saad Rafique with help of Police has detained 200 ballot boxes and returning officer as well. Their reporter, on live call, confirmed that he is witnessing all this in front of him.
Such shocking news has not gained any popularity in media esp geo has shown no concern to publish such important information. I am shocked!
@shariq: how are you
Pakistan and Saad:... i m muhajir.. but i like HATE mqm for wat it did in elections.. for its "leader's" inhumanly address.. i , my relatives, my neighbourhood, my collegues my fb friends.. theirs relatives.. most muhajirs.. but they all voted for PTI.. not MQM.. pakistanis now crave for insaaf.. not stupid nationalism.. they want pakistanism not mahajirism!!!
A fistful of Nouveou riche of Defence and Clifton are trying desparately to draw a line between the have and have-nots . ET does 250 only consists of Defence ? There are lines area and Delhi colony . I bet the population of those areas are much higher than those of the POSH areas . And trust me they did not vote for PTI . So the minority of A-Levels who are just interested in sipping leisurely a cup of latte in a trendy upscale café are mad because they wont be able to do so in future ????
Are you kidding me!?? I am Urdu speaking. All my friends and family are Urdu speaking...each and every one of them voted for IK, for PTI. No one I know voted for MQM. Yes, maybe some constituencies that are 90-centric. But IK should have won at least 3-4 seats from Karachi easily if the elections were fair!
Free n Fair Elections?
Turns out Pti is just like musharafs likes on facebook. Cant accept defeat when it comes to the real world, through the ballot and not through the internet.
@Faraz: I realized that's why voted to PML-N this time. Im too from abu dhabi!!!
@Saima: YES !! Good comment. Did you notice that PPP and ANP all got crushed, but the MQM not only maintained it's vote bank, it may have even gained a few seats. WHY? because they will always have the Mohajir vote in Urban Sindh, and they did deliver good services when given a chance. I also live in Karachi, voted for MQM, and trust me, no one is going to win in Karachi, MQM's vote bank is so massive, it's ridiculous.
@Saima: I agree Saima. The PTI will not be able to make a dent in Karachi, as the city has too much Mohajir nationalism in it, and that will always benefit the MQM. I voted for MQM, but I also support Imran Khan morally. If PTI wants to have a stake in Karachi, it will have to address the issues surrounding the Urdu-speaking community, and let's be truly honest, the work Mustafa Kamal did in Karachi will never be forgotten by the people of Karachi, especially it's 85% Mohajir constituency. PTI needs to play it's cards more strategically in the future.
PTI is minority in NA250 and simply can't win from there.
Can you honestly deny that rigging took place in NA-250 against the PTI? Can you deny the affiliations of the culprits? Then aren't they entitled to a peaceful protest? Or is it that the nameless ones feel threatened?
@Farhan: What will Punjab say? It has already traded Pakistan for Yellow Cabs and Metro Buses. Pity the nation indeed...
Exactly, the sad part is that the ones actually behind the rigging start their accusations against the entire population to portray themselves as the wronged. Who are they fooling? It is not that the PTI or PPP or JI who should have won but why make the results so laughable! They are just alienating their own supporters.
Shame on MQM!
More evidence of rigging:
https://twitter.com/_FAFEN/status/333655498773639170
There 1300 something registered voters and 2500 people voted. How did 86% extra people vote? THIS IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF RIGGING.
@Noman Ansari: Please keep low profile for a few years Daaneyal (I am proud of you, but also concerned about your safety).
@Farhan: Actually from news reports, the same way in went in karachi, illegal ballot stuffing, threats, coercion... Old faces using old tricks to keep hold of the chair at all cost.... What a shame
There I was trying to look ahead, and see TV to learn the old faces use their old tricks (ballot stuffing, local administration, threats and violence etc) to get back in power.... How sad....you have lost your moral authority....all who cheated...
It is sad that sometimes people may do things in passion thinking they are in the right, but the whole community associated with them is then forced to take the flak. Hitler may have been a Nazi but that doesnt mean that all Germans were Nazis. Unfortunately because they didnt speak up in time they were all labelled Fascists.
WAKE UP PAKISTAN!
http://tribune.com.pk/story/548262/pakistan-polls-relatively-fair-despite-irregularities/
"Out of 3,500 polling stations checked so far, nearly 700 reported irregularities."
Out of 3,500, SEVEN HUNDRED. How is that normal? How is that free and fair? Why are we in denial?
Look at this:
https://www.facebook.com/daaneyaljawaid/posts/10151653560678708
Clear evidence of rigging. Rigging videos are also all over the internet.
Why are we such apologists? No one is saying PTI would have won, but they have definitely lost crucial seats because of these shenanigans! Come out of your homes. Not for PTI, but for your right as Pakistanis to vote!
Keep up the good work, it's about time Karachi gets rid of MQM.
My friends, I might be Urduspeaking by birth but that doesn't mean that I automatically voted for the kite. Far from it, I am actually beginning to be embarrassed by actions that are supposed to represent me. I believe in honesty and fairness. I believe that our beloved country has a huge potential and I have many friends here. After all, I was born in this country and my roots are here.
Common ET, please do not translate it wrong. He said "talwaroon se chalni kardaingay."
PTI burger babies want to let out steam after their tsunami turned out to be nothing but a water spurt. Go ask Punjab where your tsunami went.
Tsunami fails to make landfall, as waves of Mohajir nationalism turn the tide of Karachi. Congratulations to Altaf Hussain and MQM.
I was a witness to the determined efforts to deter voters from casting votes at DHA Stations. Obviously it was a blatant attempt by the na malooms whom are no longer na maloom to be able to rig results here as well. But they have touched a hornets nest. I only hope that decent faces representing or associated with the 'na malooms' dont lose their own reputations and have mud slung on them too by the actions of a few.
If there was any rigging, it was in KP, where Taliban threatened to kill anyone voting ANP and PPP. No Pakhtoon would accept a victory in which his enemy's hands are tied. As a protest and show of unity with democratic forces, PTI should refuse to accept KP election results before going out in streets to protest against rigging.
This isn't PTI. This is Pakistani nation and the voters fighting for their democratic right of vote. Where are the authorities?
So Altaf Hussain calls from London and says...stop protesting peacefully....OR ELSE!! Worrying....
Oh My God, did you read Altaf Hussain's statement....is that not a threat??? A Leopard does'nt change his spots....
@Baffled: Just saw Abrar ul Haq on TV...he said they caught his opponent stuffing ballot boxes.... I think i am more inclined to believe Abrar ul Haq then the old "has beens"...I think everyone would have accepted PML victory gracefully if this kind of things did not happen... Now it leaves a bad taste in the mouth...
I went to PTI protest also.. awesome crowd...!
Fake election all over the country. Election Commission take notice
The Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan has held a press conference in which he has said that re-election will be held in 10 days in those constituencies in which irregularities were reported, either by the candidates, or by the Presiding Officers of the polling stations.
I would request all the stakeholders including the political workers of MQM as well as of PTI to remain calm until the re-elections are held in Karachi, in those constituencies in which irregularities were reported.
I don't think the ECP is going to hold elections in the entire Karachi again, just for the sake of holding re-election.
If this will happen, then there will be no end to it.
Every day some other political party will come up and demand for re-election in the entire Karachi.
PTI lost .Be a sport .Accept it .
Another stolen election..
Just came back to Dubai, voted in Lahore NA 125 for PTI, defence was a total wash out by PTI, there were handful of PML N supporters. PTI was way ahead then suddenly everything changed but not on ground. have heard from friends that Saad Rafique was in polling station for 90 minutes and no PTI razakar was allowed in by police. What a shame, could not even take one defeat despite winning so many. What a farce! Sorry Pakistan, but would like to remind family dynasties that IK has stirred the masses. Change has come in KPK,good for them! Punjab and rest of Pakistan will realize in time, that they were fooled the third time. PML N loosing one seat will not have changed anything for you but your actions in NA 125 has shown your true colors once again. Hopeful for KPK , not so for the rest of Pakistan in near future!
mystreeman what are you smoking?
I wish I was well enough to join you. I urge PTI supporters all over the country to support your family in Karachi and take out peaceful protests in your area or city.
no doubt about corruption in whole Pakistan during election 2013, specially in Karachi. Whole nation expect PTI will clean sweep in this election, specially young voters are very mobilized and cast their vote with full zeal and zest. Election Commission must take action on this corruption.
What incompetent reporting. This protest has picked up pace and a similar one is going on in Lahore as I write. And it's not just a PTI-led protest, it's a protest against unfair elections. Please, take some lessons from social media which is doing a way better job anyway of giving out the news.
what mumbai has to do with this news?
They are correct I myself viewed the corruption in Karachi yesterday
This was not simply a PTI protest.Other parties were there.As the independent candidate said -its not about parties-its about fair and unrigged voting procedures