We demand re-elections in all of NA-250: Khushbakht Shujaat

"Political parties should accept defeat gracefully instead of coming out into the streets."

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) candidate of NA-250  Khushbakht Shujaat demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conduct elections again in the entire NA-250 constituency, instead of only 43 polling stations during a press conference.

“The ECP could not administer the elections properly,” she alleged.

“I went to the city court on the election day to register my complaint regarding the delay in polling.”

Shujat expressed her dissatisfaction about the polls and named a few areas, like Reti Line, Dehli Colony and 28 polling stations on Burns road where elections could not take place.

“I will now head towards the DRO election commission and submit a written request for elections in NA-250,” she declared.

“Defence phase IV is not the only area where the voters faced problems,” she said in response to the PTI-led protests being held at Teen Talwar and Sharah-e-Faisal.

“NA-250 is more than just DHA, it spreads from the Sea View to Qayyumabad, PNT colony, Bizerta line and up to Chandio village.”

She went onto say that she sympathised with the people standing in long lines, for 10 hours, in Phase IV but said that the people in other areas were standing without shoes under the scorching heat.

“The fact that Arif Alvi personally escorted ballot boxes to various polling stations, is unconstitutional,” she said about her strong rival in the constituency.

“His tweets are the biggest proof.”

“I was happy to see voters come out in the province [Sindh] which did not see political activity and campaigning for the previous few months due to security threats,” Shujat said expressing her happiness for the tremendous voter turnout.

“I don’t want to be a part of dirty politics,” she said.

“I ask the ECP to conduct elections at all polling stations in NA-250, PS-112 and 113,” she said. “And I invite the NGOs, media and civil society to monitor the elections.”

“Every citizen should get a fair chance to choose their leader.”

In the end she said that political parties should accept defeat gracefully instead of encouraging the youth to come out on the streets and conduct unconstitutional protest.

'Propaganda against MQM'

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member Raza Haroon alleged that many parties were "staging propaganda" against the MQM.

"The PTI ran a full election campaign whereas the MQM did not get a chance due to security reasons...was that a fair playing ground?” he asked.

Haroon also condemned "media misreporting" of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain's statements to the press, where it was reported that Hussain said, “If you want to focus on Karachi but do not accept its mandate then why don’t you separate Karachi?”

Haroon said the MQM Chief was asking a rhetorical question, which was incorrectly reported.