MQM had requested the ECP to conduct re-polling in the entire NA-250 instead on selected polling stations. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) maintained its decision to hold re-elections in selected polling stations of NA-250 on Friday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said it will boycott the re-polling.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, MQM leader Raza Haroon said that after the ECP rejected the MQM's request to hold re-elections in the entire NA-250 constituency instead of selected polling stations, the party was within its rights to boycott the elections.
"MQM reject's ECP's decision to conduct re-polls in only 43 polling stations."
Haroon said that the party will be raising the matter in every competent forum. "After today's meeting, when ECP rejected our request, we reject their decision."
Earlier, MQM leader Wasay Jalil told the media at a press conference on Friday evening that the party leadership in London and Karachi was currently consulting legal and constitutional experts on the matter.
"The first session of consultations has ended and once we come to decision we will announce that."
Jalil said that a decision is expected later on Friday.
Raza Haroon added that the matter was about the public's right to vote and re-enforcing the faith in voting. "The ECP should have looked at the larger interest of the people."
"This was a golden opportunity for the ECP to demonstrate to the people that while they could not conduct flawless elections everywhere, they could have conducted exemplary elections in NA-250."
Of their consultations, Haroon said that they are currently looking at all options.
Earlier on Friday, the ECP had rejected the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) request to conduct re-polling in the entire constituency of NA-250 Karachi.
COMMENTS (35)
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To all Karachi people.I wanted Imran to win all over Pakistan but not from Karachi ,eventhough my family voted for pti,the reason is very simple.If someone get sick in your family and someone in your neighbor who u will help first.When Imran was in cricket he was'nt for karachi cricketers,Javaid Miandad's relationship is an example,finnly he is the one who brought cricket from Karachi to Lahore,since then hardly 1 or 2 cricketers in team,he is pregedious.Those who leave in clifton or defence mostly they r outsider or they do'nt need to struggle for life. THE PEOPLE OF KARACHI R GOING THROUGH SOCIAL GENOCIDE BY QUOTA SYSTEM TO DEVOLPED INTERIOR PAK.PTI AND JI DID NOT STAND BEFOR OR EVER FOR KARACHI AND U CAN TAKE IT TO THE BANK.GOODLUCK
Everyone Become A Neutral Judge Dont be bias.. Give me your decision : 1- Is it more fair to do polling on selected polling station Or 2- Is it more fair to do polling all the polling station on NA 250.
@ Pakistani, it is election, not re-election. There was no polling on election day.
An open question to Dr Alvi or any other responsible office bearer of PTI. Where does PTI stand on the urban issues of Karachi - and for that matter, Hyderabad. Please be specific and categorical. And please spare us inanities and vague, vacuous statements. Law and order, too, is largely a result of unresolved urban, specially, governance issues. Here is ur chance to state boldly what PTI has never done for the defence and the usurped rights of Karachi. And u dont have to be afraid of lasing votes outside Karachi; the die is already cast there.
Good riddance
ECP should go for re-polling for all polling stations in all constituencies in karachi.
It is no re-polling, it is polling, and it is on those station on where no vote or 0 vote were casted on 11th may.
LOL to those nut-heads who think MQM boycotted fearing its defeat. If this had been so they would not have wasted their time by complaining ECP for re-election in all polling stations of 250 and their energy by protesting.
Grapes are sour...!
Now that the gloves are off, MQM should file a petition against PTI leader, Alvi, asking how and why did he bring in ballot boxes to the polling stations. What gave him this right and who were the invisible facilitators and abettors in this action. He has himself admitted this in his twitters on 11th May.
Very unfair of ECP to give free playing field to PTI. How difficult it could be to arrange elections in whole constituency? Common man is with MQM and I don't think they had any other choice then to boycott. Even if PTI wins from NA-250, it will be like running in a marathon on your own!
I support MQM on that. EC is not supposed to be biased.
With selected polling stations and MQM's boycott, the re-polling would be meaningless. ECP should go for re-polling for all polling stations in NA 250.
@Jehangir Mari: thats the point
It sure is... lets redo polls in entire Karachi.
I stand with MQM. They are true representatives of the people of Karachi the entire Pakistan. They raise their voice against every act of violence, injustice and exploitation. Election Commission is biased.
ECP should devise such policy that both the political parties MQM and PTI should not have any grievances against each other and ECP.
Heads shoul roll. It's very important.
LOL, This was pretty much expected. I wish they could have done recounting through finger prints, but any ways.
ECP has unnecessarily complicated an already complex situation. The results will now obviously become unacceptable i.e. if polls do take place. As has been commented elsewhere in related news in this newspaper, ECP has not explained how a constituency wide polling would not have been a more acceptable expression of the constituency's choice rather than a few stations.
PTI, lets make it happen!!!
They know they will be easily Facing Heavy Defeat on NA 250, Arif Alvi Of PTI is Very strong candidate and whole of defense is with him, Glad they just accepted their Defeat!
they just want to avoid the defeat ...PTI would had swept them anyway ....PTI would have won by such an enormous amount that would have led PTI to raise voice agaisnt other seats in karachi ....so that is a very thoughtful decision by MQM ...
For any political opponent, there should be no worry for contesting the election again, as whosoever vote for MQM's candidate will again vote for MQM and similarly any one who has voted to PTI candidate before will again vote for PTI.
If Election Commission of Pakistan would not like to organize the entire election in NA-250 means that ECP wants that MQM should not participate in the election and PTI should get the walkover.
According to today's Dawn, page No. 4, MQM won 61% votes from all over Karachi in 2013 election and 72% in 2008 election, whereas, PTI only gets 18% votes from all over Karachi in 2013 election.
There is no comparison between MQM and PTI.
PTI does not represent 48% Urdu speaking people of Karachi, whereas, MQM does.
If ECP wants to rename NA-250 into NA-420, then it is some thing else.
May be MQM realized it was going to lose and therefore decided to boycott
coz MQM knows that they can never win that area due to re-elections under the army supervision!!!!!...so, its better to boycott then loose ! Bravo ECP !
this situation is frustrating for PTI, there were atleast 4 confirmed seats in karachi. while MQM seeing their defeat clear simply walks out.
Altaf Hussain is so concerned about Pakistan so why doesn't he come here! Who is he to sit in another country and ordering what goes on in Pakistan. Be a man you claim to be and come to Karachi and lead your party.
British Nationals so much concerned about Pakistan, Weirdest thing to think about :)
I fully agree with MQM's stand on election in the entire NA 250 under direct supervision of rangers or the army.
-THERE SHOULD BE GRACE IN ACCEPTIONG DEFEAT WHICH PTI LACKS.
People forget that the voters are those ordinary people who do not understand the complexities of the interantional exposures. They need people to sympathize them for the difficult life they are facing. When people used to die of bombing then we used to see only MQM's stalls providing people with free food, and MQM rep would sit with the common people on the ground and help them overcome the shock of the loss of relatives.
MQM has won the heart of the common man. It represents the common educated men in Pakistan. When all the parties had forged degree holders in parliament, there was none from MQM and JI. None of the MQM is involved in billions of Rs loans from the banks and they got themself free using their ciontact and the nation suffered. Owais bayunus
Why there is no news, video clip or talk of NA 248..Everybody afraid of Football?
E C P has made so much fuss on 11th may that it will be remember for a long time to come. The staff was not at all trained well . Although the new system is good .It will take some time to adjust. Would request ECP should have younger person .
I agree with MQM on this one re polling should take place in all 180 polling stations.
A political decision.
MQM should just boycott from NA250, that's the last option they have. Or else face the defeat!!
Good step it is