Sour grapes: Will not accept PTI’s mandate, says Fazl

Alleges elections were rigged in several constituencies.

PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday claimed elections in the province were rigged and said his party will protest against the ballot’s manipulation.

Addressing journalists at the residence of former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, Fazl fired his salvo against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following a meeting of his internal coterie.

The PTI and JUI-F have been at logger heads for several months and continuously traded barbs during their election campaigns. However, Fazl went a step forward this time and said after a thorough review of the electoral process and consultations with the party’s local chapter, the JUI-F would not accept PTI’s mandate in K-P.

He said his party welcomed the elections and fully participated in the process. However, the provincial results were not acceptable as the polls had become controversial, he added.

Fazl also blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to ensure fair and free elections, adding elections in Peshawar, Mardan and Kohat along with some NA constituencies in the tribal belt were clearly rigged. He claimed rigging also took place in Swat and DI Khan and demanded re-elections.

“Such elections where ballot boxes are stolen and political agents are tied are not acceptable to my party,” asserted the JUI-F chief.

Turning his guns on the ECP, Fazl said it was the commission’s responsibility to investigate the rigging as it was obligated to ensure transparent polls. “We will protest in all districts and our workers will take to the streets wherever such irregularities have taken place.”

Answering a question regarding the JUI-F’s attempts to form a government in K-P, Fazl said the party was in contact with the Pakistan Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Qaumi Watan Party, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz and successful independent candidates. Fazl said the Awami National Party would also be included in the government.

Meanwhile, PTI provincial president Asad Qaiser, while commenting on the JUI-F chief’s remarks, said the PTI’s mandate had made Fazl nervous.

A statement issued by Qaiser through PTI’s provincial media cell said Fazl was accusing the party of rigging when all other political parties had accepted the PTI’s legitimacy.

Qaiser claimed Fazl began accusing other parties after not being able to enter the provincial government. The statement added the people of K-P had rejected Fazl’s politics, and realised he was using religion to mask his money making activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2013.