JI gives govt one week ‘to rectify poll results’

Announces city-wide protest from March 10 unless demands are met

KARACHI:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman has issued a seven-day ultimatum to 'rectify the results of the recent local government elections and announce polls in the remaining 11 union councils of Karachi'.

“We will launch a city-wide sit-in if our demands are not met,” he said while addressing a press conference at Idara Noore- Haq on Thursday.

He said that his party wouldn't be bought by “posts and perks of administrators and would ensure that the votes mandate is respected”.

He said that the protest would begin on March 10 and will continue till all issues are addressed.

He instructed party workers to mobilise supporters for the protest.

Naeem also criticized the PPP, blaming the provincial government of manipulating the vote recount that was held in the UC-6 Pehlwan Goth in Safoora Town.

The Jamaat-e-Islami had challenged the results, saying its candidates had more votes winner according to the Form 11.

However, the results filed by the returning officer declared the PPP candidate the winner.

The PPP agreed to a recount, held on Wednesday night.

The PPP candidates were declared winners for the UC chairman and vice chairman slot in the recount.

Naeem said that bags containing ballot papers had been tampered with but the returning officer and district returning officer didn't take it into account even though it was brought to his attention.

“All 50 votes cast in favour of the JI at a polling station were shown rejected in the recounting as opposed to the forms 11 and 12,” he said.

The JI candidates lost by 253 votes.

He mentioned that the RO and the DRO didn't receive their complaints over flaws and refused to show the record of the remaining ballot papers.

He claimed that several presiding officers had told his party that had been pressured and threatened with transfer and termination in order to comply with their demands during the local government elections.

He claimed that the PPP was behind such moves.