JI boycotts oath taking ceremony

Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi has boycotted the oath-taking ceremony of the Karachi mayor in protest against the alleged rigging in all segments of the local government elections, announced the party's Karachi chief Naeemur Rehman.

The party has demanded the formation of a Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) to investigate the disappearance of Union Council (UC) chairmen belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Speaking at the press conference, held at JI headquarter in Karachi, Naeem said that the local government elections in Karachi have exposed the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Sindh government, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He criticised the mayoral election in Karachi and termed it as fraudulent and deceptive. He condemned the election's outcome, which he believed deprived the 35 million residents of Karachi of their rightful mandate.

Congratulating election winners, Rehman stated that when electoral processes are tainted by unfair means, rigging, and fascism, such outcomes should not be tolerated or endorsed.

He cited Form 11, obtained by JI, which indicated that the party had won over 100 union councils, equivalent to approximately 160 seats in the city council, including reserved seats.

He alleged that the returning officers provided by the PPP government in Sindh played a nefarious role, implying a close alliance between the PPP and the ECP.

"Although the ECP took notice of irregularities in six union councils in District West, it failed to take substantial action, ultimately favouring the ruling party through a recounting process", Naeem added.

He said, "Despite the rigging, gerrymandering, and confusion orchestrated by the PPP with the assistance of the ECP, the JI emerged as the single largest party in terms of popular votes and number of constituencies. However, the PPP, in collaboration with the ECP, allegedly usurped 14 union councils from the JI."

Naeem was accompanied by other prominent JI leaders, Munim Zaffar, Raja Arif Sultan, Younous Barai, Abdul Razzaq, and Zahid Askari.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2023.