The race to the PS-21 by-elections is heating up with calls from within the ruling party to have the polling under army supervision.
The government is using state machinery to rig the polls, alleged Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) MNA Zafar Ali Shah while speaking against his own party, at a press conference in Karachi Press Club on Friday. This is not the first time he has been critical in this vein. Replying to a question over criticism on his own party, Zafar Ali Shah said that the constitution allowed him to do so. “I have been criticising my party’s policies since 2009.”
The provincial assembly seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Zafar Ali Shah’s brother PPP lawmaker Syed Ahmed Ali Shah for holding dual citizenship. The by-poll on PS-21 in Naushahro Feroze is scheduled for November 17.
Fifteen candidates have submitted their nomination papers, including Zohaib, a nephew of Zafar Ali Shah. “The people of Sindh do not like the PPP now after the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act. The PPP candidate will not be given votes,” he added.
Rejecting by-polls under the police and Rangers, the seasoned politician alleged that the law enforcement agencies had been supporting the government’s candidate.
He added that he had the support of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Jeay Sindh Tehreek and other “pro-Sindh” parties. “Our position is strong and we won’t boycott the polls.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2012.
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