‘Governor House will become Tahrir Square’ if ECP rejects candidate demands
Protests against rigged elections block roads for three hours.
At Ghallanai, ‘defeated’ contestants allege 80 supporters were arrested on Election Day, many jailed. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SHABQADAR:
Hundreds marched from lower subdivision Ekka Ghund to Ghallanai upper subdivision led by 20 candidates who had lost the general elections from NA-36 Mohmand Agency.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Zarkhan Safi, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Muhammad Saeed Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf dissident Rahem Shah, and independents Nisar Mohmand and Shahsawar Khan were some of the candidates present.
Once the protest reached Ghallanai, candidates addressed the crowd. According to Nisar Mohmand, 80 of his voters who were arrested by members of the Aman Lashkar, their vehicles impounded, are still missing.
He further alleged a large number of voters were jailed, while thousands were not allowed to vote in Dawizai. According to Nisar, ‘angels’ came and voted in the women’s polling station for one candidate only.
Once again the establishment wants to promote a ‘deaf’ candidate who cannot stand up for the tribals, claimed Muhammad Saeed Khan of the JI. Which is why, he alleged, the establishment rigged elections for former MNA Bilal Rehman.
The JI candidate maintained Malik Khushal was killed on Election Day for supporting another candidate and the political administration failed to protect him or bring his killers to justice.
Polling started late in the afternoon in Ekka Ghund, Safi and Ambar, was halted midway and voters sent back home. Khushal added their votes were cast by the polling staff, and some votes were added the day after elections.
Raheem Shah and Shahsawar informed the audience a legal team has been put together which will file an appeal with the tribunal with videos and other proof in their favour. Daily protests will continue across the agency according to the candidates.
The list of allegations continued and the irate candidates demanded re-elections in the constituency under the army’s watch.
If the CEC did not acquiesce, Governor House will turn into Tahrir Square, promised the candidates.
When contacted, Mohmand Agency Political Agent Dr Ambar Khan rejected all allegations and suggested “instead of blocking roads with protests,” candidates much choose the legal way.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.
Hundreds marched from lower subdivision Ekka Ghund to Ghallanai upper subdivision led by 20 candidates who had lost the general elections from NA-36 Mohmand Agency.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Zarkhan Safi, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Muhammad Saeed Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf dissident Rahem Shah, and independents Nisar Mohmand and Shahsawar Khan were some of the candidates present.
Once the protest reached Ghallanai, candidates addressed the crowd. According to Nisar Mohmand, 80 of his voters who were arrested by members of the Aman Lashkar, their vehicles impounded, are still missing.
He further alleged a large number of voters were jailed, while thousands were not allowed to vote in Dawizai. According to Nisar, ‘angels’ came and voted in the women’s polling station for one candidate only.
Once again the establishment wants to promote a ‘deaf’ candidate who cannot stand up for the tribals, claimed Muhammad Saeed Khan of the JI. Which is why, he alleged, the establishment rigged elections for former MNA Bilal Rehman.
The JI candidate maintained Malik Khushal was killed on Election Day for supporting another candidate and the political administration failed to protect him or bring his killers to justice.
Polling started late in the afternoon in Ekka Ghund, Safi and Ambar, was halted midway and voters sent back home. Khushal added their votes were cast by the polling staff, and some votes were added the day after elections.
Raheem Shah and Shahsawar informed the audience a legal team has been put together which will file an appeal with the tribunal with videos and other proof in their favour. Daily protests will continue across the agency according to the candidates.
The list of allegations continued and the irate candidates demanded re-elections in the constituency under the army’s watch.
If the CEC did not acquiesce, Governor House will turn into Tahrir Square, promised the candidates.
When contacted, Mohmand Agency Political Agent Dr Ambar Khan rejected all allegations and suggested “instead of blocking roads with protests,” candidates much choose the legal way.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.