Protests: Candidates from Bannu, DI Khan allege rigging

The protesters raised slogans against the unofficial result and the alleged rigging of the polls by the JUI-F.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate from PK-73 Bannu Malik Pakhtun Yar while alleging rigging on Election Day staged a protest along with his supporters in Bannu on Sunday.

According to unofficial results, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) candidate Malik Riaz has emerged victorious from the constituency.

The protesters comprising both men and women gathered in front of the office of the district returning officer (RO) and later blocked the Bannu-DI Khan Road.  They raised slogans against the unofficial result and the alleged rigging of the polls by the JUI-F.

Talking to media, Malik Pakhtun Yar announced he would be boycotting the result and demanded a re-election.



Meanwhile, separate protests were held in DI Khan and Tank by the candidates of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and PPP, respectively over delay in the announcement of results.

PPP’s NA-24 DI Khan candidate, Senator Waqar Ahmad, staged a protest in front of the office of the RO. The PTI’s candidate from NA-25 (DI Khan cum Tank) Dawar Khan Kundi and his supporters held a protest in Tank in front of the RO’s office against delayed election results. Kundi had contested from NA-25 against JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Candidates of both NA seats alleged the results were being delayed because of rigging and the JUI-F was trying to win through illegal means.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.