Balochistan ‘rigging’: National Party protests against Imran’s ‘allegations’

ISLAMABAD:

Workers of the National Party (NP) and civil society members held a demonstration outside the National Press Club on Wednesday against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s statement alleging Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch won the elections through rigging.  

While condemning the allegations, NP members said Khan’s accusations are baseless and irresponsible.

National Party Punjab Chief Organiser Ayub Malik said Khan’s levelling of allegations without verifying facts was very damaging for the federation.  He that Ahsan Shah, who fought on the seat clinched by Malik, was disqualified by the court for possessing a fake degree. He claimed NP was the only political party providing a common platform to the deprived and underprivileged class of the four provinces of the country, adding that the part is also carrying out several grassroots development projects in Balochistan.

Comrade Hafeez Baloch said Imran mistakes politics with cricket. “He does not know about the political struggle Malik has been through, coming from a lower middle class family and being where he is today due to his own abilities and tireless efforts.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Jahangir Khan said Malik has done a tremendous job in the province during a short span of time by holding local government elections.

Abdullah Dayo, a member of the party’s organising committee in Islamabad, said Malik was the first middle class chief minister of Balochistan who has introduced middle class politics in the tribal-political set up of the province. Tahira Jabin, a civil society activist, strongly condemned Imran’s statement and termed it ‘irresponsible’.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2014.