NA-37: Women continue protest on fourth day, call for re-election

Allege voters were influenced by former MNA, Sajid Hussain Turi.

PARACHINAR: Protests by tribal women against alleged election rigging in NA-37 continued for the fourth consecutive day.

Women, hailing from Parachinar and surrounding areas, first gathered in a protest on May 14 at a camp in Shaheed Park in front of the political agent’s office. They demanded the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) hold re-elections in their constituency and alleged the results were influenced by former NA-37 MNA, Sajid Hussain Turi.

The women said they were prevented from casting their votes in many polling stations by Turi’s men, adding they also had proof of rigging in many areas where they were forced to vote for him.

They lashed out at the tribal men for not raising their voices against rigging and asked them to “take off their turbans”, claiming they were also paid by Turi not to meddle.

Among the women were also polling agents, who were convinced the results of NA-37 were changed. They demanded re-election, threatening to continue with their protests.

Many present in the demonstration said they voted for former Air Marshal Sayed Qaisar Hussain to have him elected as MNA. They added, however, that he lost due to poll rigging. After accounts of rigging were presented, the ECP ordered a recount in NA-37. It was the delay in the recounting process which spurred the protests.

NA-37 falls in Parachinar, headquarters of Kurram Agency, where former MNA Sajid Hussain Turi, an independent candidate, won by securing 30,524 votes. Sayed Qaisar Hussain, meanwhile, was the runner up with 29,623 votes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2013.