Jamaat-e-Islami to stage sit-ins today
Amid allegations of widespread rigging in the general elections, protests were staged by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) outside the Election Commission office.
JI Karachi Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced to hold sit-in protests at eight major spots in the mega city on Sunday (today).
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Aftab Jahangir, Barrister Abdul Jaleel and others also joined the protest, whereas JI leaders Osama Razi, Munim Zafar, Saifuddin and others addressed the protest.
The protestors, carrying placards and banners - inscribed with demands for rectification of polling results, chanted slogans against the election commission and those facilitated and sponsored the rigging process.
Speaking on the occasion, Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that Karachi won't accept target killers any more as it couldn't afford the era of blood and hate once again.
The leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) addressing the protesting party supporters said that the people of Karachi had decided in favour of the PTI, but their votes have been stolen. They said that if this trend of the theft of mandate continues, PTI will expand the scope of its protests and also engage in legal battle.
The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters aslo protested against "blatant rigging", first outside polling stations and then outside the Provincial Election Commissioner's office.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th 2024.