SUP accuses provincial govt of pre-poll rigging

SHC takes SUP plea on record to delay LG elections, refuses to make it party in MQM-P’s petition

HYDRABAD:

The Sindh High Court on Thursday rejected the Sindh United Party's plea to become a party in the ongoing petition of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan against the local government law and delimitation of the LG constituencies in the province.

The SUP's spokesman Khuwaja Naveed Amin informed that the court, however, took the letter which the party had written to the Election Commission of Pakistan for postponement of the LG elections on record.

The SUP contended that the returning officers have been selected from the departments of the Sindh government and as such Pakistan Peoples Party was influencing the ROs in the electoral process.

Leveling the accusation of pre-poll rigging in the upcoming local government elections in Sindh, the nationalist parties have called for postponement of the LG elections in the provinces slated for June 26 and July 24. The leaders said the Election Commission of Pakistan has delegated the authority of conducting the polls to Pakistan Peoples Party's Sindh government.

"It is shocking that all the District Returning Officers, ROs and AROs, who are nominated by the ECP, are biased, partisan and sympathise with the candidates of the ruling party," wrote Amir Ali Thebo, general secretary of Sindh United Party, in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner of ECP.

He pointed out that most of the returning officers belong to the revenue and education departments of the Sindh government. He alleged that the SUP had noticed the incidents of exercising undue influence, corrupt practices and threats to workers of other political parties in the province during the processes of issuance and receiving of the nomination forms.

"The forcible disappearance of the candidates, proposers or seconders on the day of scrutiny [has become] routine all over the province," Thebo alleged. He claimed that such incidents are also reported in the mainstream media. He expressed fear that the rigging may create a law and order situation during the campaign or on the polling days.

The SUP said it is incumbent on the ECP to conduct free and fair elections, adding that the prevailing process is devoid of fairness and transparency. He urged the ECP to defer the polls in view of their complaint.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2022.