Former nazim Mustafa Kamal says there was a deliberate attempt to marginalise the MQM's mandate in NA-250. PHOTO: MOHAMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS/FILE
MQM Senator Mustafa Kamal in a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday evening alleged that elections in NA-250 had gone awry due to the incompetency of the ECP who could not provide polling material or staff at the polling stations which meant that voting could not begin till 3:30pm.
“This is the only constituency in Pakistan where till 3:30pm, in most, almost all polling stations, voting had not started.”
The former Karachi mayor pointed out that once polling had begun, no reports of any firing or any untoward incident were received in NA-250, and the atmosphere in the constituency was largely peaceful. Rather according to a "well thought out plan" polling was delayed with the MQM the victim.
"We were the victim. Why would we delay polling?"
"All our voters were there but we were helpless. We were trying all our contacts to ensure staff and materials reached the polling stations so that voting could commence."
Kamal added that his party had onMonday demanded re-polling in the entirety of NA-250 - due to ECP's incompetency. "But today, the ECP, without consulting anyone announced re-polling in 43 polling stations?"
"We reject it. We will protest against marginalising MQM's mandate."
The Senator said that trouble started when the ECP called for voter lists to be reconfirmed in Karachi under the supervision of the army. “There was a deliberate attempt to marginalise MQM's mandate. And it started with the voter lists being confirmed door-to-door in Karachi under supervision of the army. As if there was no problem in the accuracy of voter lists in other parts of the country.”
Kamal said that they welcomed it, hoping it would vindicate the MQM. However, he alleged that when this failed, hours after the election date was announced, the decision to conduct delimitation in Karachi was announced. “Out of entire Pakistan.”
“They were conducted [delimitation] unconstitutionally since delimitation can only be carried out after census.”
The former mayor said that the MQM persevered and continued with its election campaign which came under attack from the Taliban.
“On May 11 they tried their last attempt to marginalise the mandate of MQM. This happened in one constituency, NA-250. This is the same constituency in which delimitation was announced.”
Earlier the MQM candidate from NA-250, Khushbakht Shujaat, said that re-polls should be conducted at all of the 180 polling stations in the constituency. She expressed concerns over the decision of ECP.
Correction: An earlier version of the article had incorrectly spelled Senator. The error has been fixed.
COMMENTS (52)
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I feel MQM may boycott the re-polling in NA-250 on the fear of losing.
@Noman: Khusbakhat asked for re-election i the whole NA 50 and so is the MQM what is ridiculous about it
My dear PTI fellows, wake up and smell the coffee. IK has brought a welcome change but just not big enough. Which is really good for your party as well. There is always a huge gulf between rhetoric and reality and your government, if you are able to form one in KPK, should provide you an occassion to show what you are capable of. In any case, PTI is not proving any different from the JUIs of this world by shouting foul on losing. This is not crcket, my friends. IK already seems to be playing poltics!
@Noman: They are protesting against re-election in 43 polling stations while they are demanding re-election in whole constituency.
Bro you have 122 likes at this time. It means 122 ignorants are with you. This shows the direction in which you all are heading
MQM wants in entire polling station of 250. not just 43 polling stations
@Na-maloom afrad: like tsunami hit Punjab
@ABKhan: MQM not afraid, it is asking for a re-poll in the entire constituency of NA 250, so MQM cannot be judged as being afraid
@Saleem: They candidates are always expected to be made a part the consultation process
Wow after reading the comments I can see that the quality of education has really gone south. I can understand that you hate MQM but atleast be honest. Either you have not read the whole article or your passion for PTI or hatred for MQM has just clouded your brain to actually understand what is written here.
Why should an independent body like ECP consult a political party with stakes in the election before ordering repolling in the best interest and demand of the public? please explain when you address the public next time, thanks.
Kamal Sahab, Boycott from NA-250. That's the only option you have left!
ECP is required by law to hear all the parties on any complaint and consult with all parties on any policy issue. You may recall ECP did consult with all political parties on various decisions before election. Second, what was the hurry to go for re-polling only in Karachi. Normally, such re-polling is carried out in all constituencies across the country on the same day. And we know that there have been complaints from many other constituencies in the country. Third, the many more polling stations in NA 250 were affected by delays or no polling. It is beyond any logic to hold re-polling only on 49 polling stations.
MQM are paying the price for siding with the PPP over five long years and are now in damage control mode. One must admit that they face difficulties head-on and display a sense of purpose......qualities others could emulate.
@Syed: Who are you to consult with?
The whole world knows this man except you!! do u live in Japan
Sorry couldnt read the news, too distracted by all those stripes. Perhaps stripes suit members of this party.
@sajjad: lol I wouldnt wear striped shirt and suit together
Read the news again, they are not against re-election but againts re-polling only in few stations. Every polling station was impacted in some way, it is not unreasonable to request polling in whole NA-250.
PTI Bacha party of KHi you should support this.... re polling in whole NA-250..... oh sorry sorry you even dont now that which other areas fall under NA-250 places likee dehli colony qayum abad burns road etc etc.
Who are you to consult with?
Election should be on all polling stations of NA 250 &2 NA248 and their respective PS seats. We agree with MQM.....
Who are they ??? ECP doesnt have to take their permission for re-polling. Nobody is above the law.
Why should the ECP contact or ask you? their job is to correct any wrongdoing. They are not the "mazloom awam of khi" you claim is your mandate
Then Withdraw immediately, common Boycott as JI did .
MQM Sentaor Mustafa Kamal ET please fix the spelling of "S E N A T O R", thanks.
MQM, these old games will not work! Even mustafa kamal face will not change the mood of the karachi now!
you r worried because the entire security will be prsent at the polling stations and MQM will lose this seat
@Ansari: Its not personal, no one is insulting him. Its only that what he and Khushbakht said are contradictory even though they're in the same party. Also ECP doesn't have to consult the MQM before making decisions, its an independent organization.
Finally the last trump card of MQM. But of no use. Game is over after having 54K votes in North Nazimabad PTI proved educated mohajirs have switched sides.
did u guys even watch the press conference?! they are not against re-election, they are agains re-polling on select poling stations as opposed to the whole constituency, which i think being a neutral is fair, the whole constituency suffered..
@Ansari: No one is railing on Mustafa Kamal. What is wrong is wrong. Just because he did a lot for Karachi does not mean that we will support him on wrong things as well. He has all our support on the right things but this is outright unacceptable.
LOL. what a joke. He know's if the elections are free and fair they will lose free and fair.
I guess they want re-polling in all 250.
How fickle are the PTI supporters, u were calling for re-election at na-250 thats what MQM and Khushbakht Shujaat proposed..the whole constituency had polling problems, why do it in the select poling stations, the reason why MQM is against it is that it probably falls in those posh areas where PTI have some support. The whole constituency stretches from the shore all the way to burns road...have re-polling everywhere in the whole NA-250. As far as other constituencies are concerned file a proper complaint with evidence and pursue the case, so that this culture of rigging can be eradicated and a culture of accountability can be established.
Nice suit (y)
Bad timings.
PTI have only 20 seats in punjab assembly out of 297 whyy??? "punjab ma soooooOOoonami kidhar gaee"
I may be a PTI supporter, but really everyone there is no need to rail on Mustafa Kamal. Its unfair and rude. He has really done quite a lot for our city, Karachi. We shouldn't just turn against people that were good to us. There are far too many that have wreaked havoc here.
IT is unclear what the complaint is. IT is well documented that there was trouble in NA-250. IF there is repolling in constituencies where this occurred, how does this deny you your mandate? In fact this is an attempt to establish who really has the mandate there.
You say you did not cause delays fine. But the fact that there were inordinate delays is not in question. What is the issue with repolling? Also why do you think EC needs to consult you?
Hate to say it but MQM is right on this one (tough their Quaid said it very stupidly - no surprise). It is not fair to re vote only in select polling stations as the count in others are known. Re-election should be held in the entire constituency under cctv camera.
Now the ECP will get MQM's approval before doing something? Get a grip boss...
Already feeling threatened!!. Tsunami is coming
This is not enough... What happened to the rigging in other constituencies of Karachi???
NA 239, 251, 252 and 253 were all rigged like day time robbery. Same happened in other constituencies, when will we Karachiites get our rights to Choose Freely???
Drama! ECP is an independent body and does not need to consult them.
Didn't your party ask for re-election (refering to Khush-Bakhat press conference) in NA 250!!! MQM has really lost it this time.
On one hand Khushkbakht Shujaat asking for re-election on NA 250, the other hand MQM is going to protest. Why are they ridiculing themselves?
If MQM really had mandate over there....then why are they so afraid and furious about re-polling??
Who are you? Why ECP has to consult you before announcing election date?
LOL @ picture. ET is satirical mood. :D
The Good thing about this conference was that Mustafa addressed the press. He enjoys the most credibility and respect amongst the public in Karachi, irrespective of area or ethnicity.
When the aggressor becomes the aggrieved. Classic ploy of wicked minds.