Rigging allegations: MQM boycotts NA-258 by-election

PTI has also boycotted upcoming by-poll, which will be held on Nov 24

KARACHI: Three days before the polling, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Pakistan boycotted the NA-258 by-election, giving clear ground to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to clinch the seat.

MQM is the second party to withdraw from the election after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Imran Khan-led party had made nearly the same excuses as the Farooq Sattar-led party, claiming the Sindh government will rig the election using state machinery.

In a statement issued late on Monday evening, the MQM said that the provincial government invested public resources and used criminal elements to secure leads in past by-elections. The same methodology will also be used this time, the party alleged.

The decision was taken at a meeting at the party's makeshift headquarters in PIB Colony. The statement reads that when the MQM is not being allowed to take part in the election independently, it has been left with no choice but to boycott the polls.

There were 18 candidates in the Election Commission's final list. After MQM's Mumtaz Ali Imrani and PTI's Hanif Bangash withdrew, the competition will now be between 16 contestants, of which 11 are independent candidates.

It seems likely that the PPP will secure the seat easily with its candidate Hakim Baloch. He also won the same seat in the last general election on the ticket of the central-ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz. After developing differences with the party, he jumped ship and joined the PPP.

The election will be held on November 24.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2016.