Re-polling will be conducted in 43 polling stations of NA-250. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/ EXPRESS
Despite expressing reservations, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have decided to take part in the re-polling in NA-250 scheduled for May 19. Following widespread allegations of rigging, several parties held protests and sit-ins to push the election commission into holding fresh elections. The stalemate continued for several days as the political parties took diametrically opposite position on the issue. While the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) wanted re-polling in the entire NA-250, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) wanted the same across Karachi. The election commission, however, resisted the pressure and announced re-polling in 43 polling stations of NA-250.
The decision did not go down well with JI and MQM, which announced to boycott, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PTI have opted to stay in contention despite their misgivings.
PPP decides to stay
in the fray
PPP candidate from NA-250 announced his party’s decision to stay in the contest despite their concerns about the election process.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Rashid Hussain Rabbani said that PPP, which has once again emerged as the largest party in the province, is being singled out by the election commission.
“Despite the fact that we submitted several complaints related to rigging and misconduct during elections in NA-250, the election commission neither issued us a notice nor were we invited for a meeting held on Thursday in Islamabad.
“Only MQM and PTI leaders were called to the meeting which is blatant discrimination.”
Rabbani also demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (retired) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, who, he said, has failed to hold free and fair elections in NA-250. He also criticised the role played by the election commission during the whole process. “The election commission has still not determined who was responsible for delays at most of the polling stations in my constituency. We want to know whether it was the returning officer, presiding officers or the provincial election commission.”
PTI begrudgingly goes ahead
PTI leader and candidate on NA 250, Arif Alvi, said that they will not boycott despite the fact that their demand for holding fresh elections across the city has not been accepted by the election commission. “Our rallies were for entire Karachi, not just for NA-250.”
He said that they will, however, abide by the election commission’s decision for elections in 43 polling stations as that is where no polling was held altogether and people did not get to exercise their right of vote. He also said that they have evidence of massive rigging in the elections. Alvi said decision about holding more rallies has yet to be taken.
JI stands its ground
The JI and MQM announced they will boycott the re-polling to be held tomorrow on 43 polling stations of NA-250. Spelling out his party’s position, JI Karachi general secretary Naseem Siddiqui said that their stance had been very clear from the beginning. “Our party demanded re-elections throughout the city. Re-polling on 43 polling stations or the entire NA-250 for that matter is not what we have been protesting for.”
Siddiqui said that, therefore, his party has decided to boycott the process and would continue their protests. The party will stage a sit-in outside the provincial election commission tomorrow (Saturday), he added.
He also expressed his disappointment at PTI’s decision to go ahead with the re-polling decision.
List of polling stations
Official polling station no. Name and Location of the polling Station
4 Safiya Sec. Boys Private School Aram Bagh Police Station
Pak Chowk
7 GBSS Railway Colony
11 G.B.S.S M.U.M. School Gari Khata Karachi
48 GGSS P&T Colony
52 Islamia Collegate Public Sec School Hijrat Colony Street 45
56 Jamshad Ahmed Khan Lower Sec School
57 Bismillah Hijrat Colony GBPS
58 CDGK Primary School No. 54-55 M. Khan Jonijo
60 CDGK 56 Tekri Colony Bath Island
62 College Of Accounting Management Science Allama Sibli Nomani
78 Pak. Turkish Institute Shireen Jinnah Colony
97 Aaisha Bawani Secondary School
98 Aaisha Bawani Secondary School
100 Aaisha Bawani Government College
101 Aaisha Bawani Government College
104 KMC Primary School No. 62 - 63 Hazara Colony Kalapul
106 Railway Secondary School Railway Colony Cantt
109 GBSS Qamarul Islam Punjab Colony
110 GBSS Qamarul Islam Punjab Colony
113 Ismail Allah Wala Secondary School Delhi Colony
114 Ismail Allah Wala Secondary School Delhi Colony
115 DHA Tooba High School Phase-I Tooba Masjid Phase-II
117 Aminia Girls Secondary School, Dehli Colony, Street No. 7
121 Zaheen Academy, Block 9 Khekashan Clifton.
122 Bay Veiw junior School Block 9 Near International
Islamic Chamber
131 Absa School of Deaf & Dumb Children Phase II
Ext. Main Korangi Road.
135 Defence Model School Phase IV
136 Defence Model School Phase IV
137 Defence Model School Phase IV
139 Defence Model School Phase IV
140 D.H.A Boys College Phase VII
141 D.H.A Boys College Phase VII
142 D.H.A Boys College Phase VII
143 D.H.A Boys College Phase VII
144 D.H.A Boys College Phase VII
148 DHA Model High School Phase- VII Khayaban -e- Hilal
157 D.A. Model School O & A Level Khyaban - e- Mujahid.
165 DA Middle School phase-VIII Khayaban-e- Shujaat
168 DHA Girls College PH 8
175 GOVERNMENT RIZWAN PRY SCHOOL B- AREA,
QAYYUMABAD (COMMBINED)
177 BALDIA PRIMARY LOWER SEC SCHOOL A- AREA
QAYYUMABAD (COMMBINED)
179 BALDIA PRIMARY LOWER SEC SCHOOL A- AREA
QAYYUMABAD (COMMBINED)
180 BALDIA PRIMARY LOWER SEC SCHOOL A- AREA
QAYYUMABAD (COMMBINED)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1614423942-7/-ET-Burns-Road-by-Athar-Khan-(8)1614423942-7-270x192.webp "restaurants on burns road warned against littering")
JI will cast all their votes in favour of PTI so I I PTI