Shirazis press for army’s deployment on poll day

Accuse Tappi of using state machinery to rig polls.


Our Correspondent April 20, 2013
PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

KARACHI:


The leaders of the Shirazi group have demanded the government deploy armed forces in Thatta district on election day.


At a press conference on Saturday, Shafqat Shah Shirazi along with Haji Usman Malkani accused their rival in the district, Owais Muzaffar Tappi - who is contesting on PS-88 Ghora Bari - of using state machinery to rig the polls. They requested the election commission form a committee to visit the area and find out for itself.

The Shirazis recently parted ways with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and are determined to give the party a tough time in the elections. “A lot of reshuffling took place and around four SSPs were transferred in a very short time,” said Shirazi, accusing the police of harassing their candidates.

“In this situation, fair and free elections are not possible,” he said. “We have communicated to the chief election commissioner and have also filed a petition in court requesting the judiciary take notice of this.”

Shirazi explained that they decided to leave the PPP when it nominated Tappi, as they believed he was involved in land grabbing in our district. “Our voters expressed their reservations soon after he filed the nomination papers to contest the election.”

Bogus land allotment

Shirazi also presented a fact sheet that claimed that around 36,000 acres were allotted by the deputy commissioner of his area to different people on the directives of Owais Muzaffar Tappi. He claimed that people procured billions of rupee loans through these “bogus” allotments. “Every record has the same signature with the same ink, which shows how the land has been allotted illegally,” he added. He claimed that saint Aqil Faqeer’s mazaar, which is around 500 to 700 years old, has also been allotted to a woman.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2013. 

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ