Voicing concerns: PTI, JI leaders call on provincial election commissioner

Urge authorities to ensure free and fair elections in Karachi

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and his counterpart from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Ali Zaidi, met the provincial election commissioner, Tanvir Zaki, at the latter's office on Thursday and demanded effective measures to ensure free and fair elections in Karachi on December 5. 

"We shared our reservations and suggested that Rangers personnel be deployed inside and outside the polling booths," said Rehman, while talking to the media after the meeting. He added that they have conveyed their concerns to the relevant authorities, who have in turn assured that the elections will be held in a free and fair manner.

Rehman was of the view that they had fulfilled their legal and ethical responsibilities with regards to the LG elections by writing a letter to the provincial election commissioner. The JI leader said that the situation in Karachi cannot be changed without conducting transparent elections. He said that the rights of the people have always been looted through rigging, adding that they had sought lists of polling booths but the election commission has yet to issue them.

Rehman also revealed that a rally will be held on November 28, in which the central leaders of both the JI and PTI will participate.

PTI's Syed Ali Zaidi said that three letters have been sent to the election commission, but they have yet to respond to any of them. He was of the view that the mandate of the masses would be lost if transparency was not ensured in the elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2015.