PPP cries foul over alleged MQM, PML-N rigging

PPP writes letter to CEC, alleging that MQM has cast bogus votes and forced people out of polling stations.

BADIN/ KARACHI: In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan, the Pakistan Peoples' Party Sindh has raised the issue of rigging and other irregularities during the polling in Karachi and rural Sindh on Saturday.

Taj Haider, the in-charge of PPP’s Sindh Election Cell has communicated to the CEC that there was firing at the NA-243 and PS-97 polling stations established at a PECHS School near Baloch Colony, and also claimed that was large scale rigging at polling stations of PS-100.

He alleged that polling stations in the GBSS FC Area and Lal School were occupied by MQM party workers and that voters were not allowed to cast their votes, also adding that bogus votes are being cast by MQM.

In NA-246, a PPP polling agent was allegedly beaten by MQM party workers at a polling station in Shaheed Millat College.

Haider also alleged that fake votes were being cast in UC 2, 6 and 7 of the PS-111 constituency, and complained that voters and workers of PPP were not allowed in polling stations situated at UC 5 and 6 of NA-249 and PS-100.

In PS-104, he said that armed men closed the doors of some polling stations located in Chotta Maidan area, KMC School, Ibrahim Ali Bhai School, Nusrat Colony, Happy Dell School Nazimabad-2, Wasaniay School Nazimabad-2 and did not allow the voters to cast votes.

Taj Haider stated that heavy rigging was reported in UC 12 5B area, Peela School, Section 5B/3 of PS-98 where no army was present at any polling station.

Eyewitnesses say voters were not allowed to enter in polling stations and polling agents of MQM were allegedly stamping ballot papers.

Alleged attacks by PML-N

In PS-129, Haider says fake votes in large number were being cast by PML-N candidate at polling station number 70 CDGK School, Karyani Mohalla, Ibrahim Hyderi, he alleged.

In the PS-114 constituency, he alleges that PPP camps in Azam Basti were allegedly attacked and uprooted by PML-N candidate's supporters.

He also says that PPP workers and voters were attacked also at Fatan Parihar polling station NA-25, leaving party workers injured while ballot papers were snatched from voters and stamped in favour of MQM people in the NA-245 constituency.

He even said that female PPP voters were attacked and pushed out of a polling station, and that in NA-243, the PPP camp was attacked and a 15-year-boy Javed was kidnapped.

At the end, he wrote that in NA-252 the presiding officer did not reach the polling station in Lawrence School till 2.30p.m, but that fake votes were cast in favour of MQM.

Taj Haider also made similar complaints for Thatta, Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Tharparkar.