Parties demand Rangers deployment inside and outside polling stations
All-Parties Conference titled 'We Need a Rigging, Corruption and Terror Free Sindh' held
PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Over a dozen political parties demanded the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to deploy army and Rangers personnel inside and outside all polling stations during the local government (LG) elections in Karachi on December 5.
The All Parties Conference (APC) was convened jointly by Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP). The meeting was held under the title, 'We Need a Rigging, Corruption and Terror Free Sindh', at the house of JUP leader Shah Muhammad Owais Noorani.
"We aren't against [Pakistan Peoples Party] PPP and [Muttahida Qaumi Movement] MQM, but their policies," said QAT President Ayaz Latif Palijo. "We aren't just responsible to our voters [alone] but to [the] future generation, [too]."
Preparations underway: Only 7% of polling stations ‘safe’
Reading the demands of the APC, Palijo said that neither the general elections of 2013 were fair and transparent, nor the government-conducted LG polls of this year in Sindh. He said that the PPP and MQM claimed fake mandate of general elections. LG elections held in different districts of Sindh province should be conducted again, he demanded.
The APC demanded that the militant wing of the MQM should immediately be eliminated so that the people of Karachi can cast their vote freely.
"I believe in heroism and want to become a hero," said Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, a former PPP leader. He said that he stood firm against the PPP in Badin and won the LG polls. "The ECP should consider why PPP won in other areas [but] not in Badin," he said. "It was because of deployment of the forces."
Dr Mirza said that despite the visit of PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Badin, he wasn't defeated. "People in Badin supported me."
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Senator Shahi Syed was of the view that the people of Karachi need freedom to cast votes according to their will. "Fear still prevails in Karachi despite the operation," he said. He added that instead of elections, we first need a proper operation in the city.
LG elections: Rangers, police to start patrolling from today 15 districts going to polls
"Karachi shouldn't be handed over to a party," urged Syed, saying lawmakers from Karachi who are called RAW's agents sit in assemblies. "They shouldn't be in assemblies if they work for foreign agencies."
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Ali Zaidi also criticised the PPP and the MQM, saying that both the parties are involved in pre-poll rigging. "If there is no justice, there is no peace," he said.
Addressing the political leadership of different parties, Noorani demanded the government to ensure deployment of armed forces in all the polling stations instead of a select few.
The APC was also attended by leaders of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League - Functional, PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami, ANP, Muhajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi, Jamhoori Watan Party, PPP - Shaheed Bhutto, Sindh National Movement and others.
Most speakers appreciated Mirza's stance against PPP. "Dr Mirza did a tremendous job," said PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi. "PPP wants to give Karachi to MQM," he alleged. "Deployment of security forces should [also] be inside polling stations, not only outside."
JI's senior leader, Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, said "Not 93 per cent but 100 per cent polling stations in Karachi are sensitive." He said that the ruling provincial government wants to create an environment of fear in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2015.
Over a dozen political parties demanded the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to deploy army and Rangers personnel inside and outside all polling stations during the local government (LG) elections in Karachi on December 5.
The All Parties Conference (APC) was convened jointly by Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP). The meeting was held under the title, 'We Need a Rigging, Corruption and Terror Free Sindh', at the house of JUP leader Shah Muhammad Owais Noorani.
"We aren't against [Pakistan Peoples Party] PPP and [Muttahida Qaumi Movement] MQM, but their policies," said QAT President Ayaz Latif Palijo. "We aren't just responsible to our voters [alone] but to [the] future generation, [too]."
Preparations underway: Only 7% of polling stations ‘safe’
Reading the demands of the APC, Palijo said that neither the general elections of 2013 were fair and transparent, nor the government-conducted LG polls of this year in Sindh. He said that the PPP and MQM claimed fake mandate of general elections. LG elections held in different districts of Sindh province should be conducted again, he demanded.
The APC demanded that the militant wing of the MQM should immediately be eliminated so that the people of Karachi can cast their vote freely.
"I believe in heroism and want to become a hero," said Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, a former PPP leader. He said that he stood firm against the PPP in Badin and won the LG polls. "The ECP should consider why PPP won in other areas [but] not in Badin," he said. "It was because of deployment of the forces."
Dr Mirza said that despite the visit of PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Badin, he wasn't defeated. "People in Badin supported me."
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Senator Shahi Syed was of the view that the people of Karachi need freedom to cast votes according to their will. "Fear still prevails in Karachi despite the operation," he said. He added that instead of elections, we first need a proper operation in the city.
LG elections: Rangers, police to start patrolling from today 15 districts going to polls
"Karachi shouldn't be handed over to a party," urged Syed, saying lawmakers from Karachi who are called RAW's agents sit in assemblies. "They shouldn't be in assemblies if they work for foreign agencies."
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Ali Zaidi also criticised the PPP and the MQM, saying that both the parties are involved in pre-poll rigging. "If there is no justice, there is no peace," he said.
Addressing the political leadership of different parties, Noorani demanded the government to ensure deployment of armed forces in all the polling stations instead of a select few.
The APC was also attended by leaders of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League - Functional, PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami, ANP, Muhajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi, Jamhoori Watan Party, PPP - Shaheed Bhutto, Sindh National Movement and others.
Most speakers appreciated Mirza's stance against PPP. "Dr Mirza did a tremendous job," said PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi. "PPP wants to give Karachi to MQM," he alleged. "Deployment of security forces should [also] be inside polling stations, not only outside."
JI's senior leader, Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, said "Not 93 per cent but 100 per cent polling stations in Karachi are sensitive." He said that the ruling provincial government wants to create an environment of fear in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2015.