'Leading party' rigged K-P elections: Fazlur Rehman

JUI-F chief calls on his supporters to take out street protests.

PESHAWAR: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on his supporters to take out street protests against rigging in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa elections.

Refusing to accept the mandate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Rehman alleged that the "leading party" in the K-P elections had rigged the polls.

He accused the Election Commission of Pakistan of failing in holding free‚ fair and transparent elections.

Background

The PTI is looking to form its government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province by forming an alliance with political parties that have a “clean, clear and honest” political record.

The PTI has won 34 seats in the 99-member K-P assembly, the JUI-F has 16, the PML-N 12, the ANP has five, JI and QWP have seven each and PPP has two. Independents make up 13 seats.

Coupled with eight female and one minority reserved seats, the PTI’s tally comes to up to 43, and with independents the QWP and JI, it barely reaches the simple majority of 63.

On the other hand, the PML-N may look to form the government in K-P by joining hands with the JUI-F, independents and other parties.

Now, the balance of power lies in the hands of not just the QWP, but also the independents, who may be forming a bloc of their own. An independent candidate, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that eight of the 13 independents have formed a group. “We will hold talks on behalf of all candidates with the parties and decide the course of action,” he said.

Despite claims from both sides, the QWP has kept its options open and is likely to take a decision after the meeting of its party’s parliamentary board on Tuesday. Earlier QWP chief Aftab Sherpao told journalists that their options were open and they will take a decision which suits the interests of Pakhtuns.