Gone awry: JUI-F, PTI activists halt recount in PK-20

Claim police rigged elections, threaten to march to Islamabad to ensure their rights are upheld.

CHARSADDA: Vote recount in PK-20 was postponed on Wednesday after Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists pelted stones at the court building.

The PK-20 constituency was won by Qaumi Watan Party candidate Khalid Khan, after which JUI-F candidate Mufti Gohar Ali and PTI candidate Nawab Khan Mohmand refused to accept the results. Both losing candidates levelled accusations of rigging and demanded returning officer Civil Judge Fazal Sattar Khan order a recount. Sattar directed a recount scheduled for May 21.

However, before votes could be counted again, Mufti Gohar Ali and Nawab Khan initiated protests against the elections, claiming district government officials and the police were complicit in fixing the polls.

The demonstration, led by Ali, moved from Darul Uloom Taleemul Quran seminary to Chandni Chowk, and proceeded to block Tangi-Shabqadar Road. The protestors also forced multiple schools in the area to shut down.



Ali alleged Charsadda DPO Ghulam Hussain, DSP Rasheed Khan, and SHO Mandani Rajab Ali were all involved. “We were defeated because the police rigged the elections.” The JUI-F had no faith in the court and would march to Islamabad in order to ensure their rights were upheld, he asserted.

After Ali’s address, a mob in Tangi rushed to the court’s main gate and pelted the building with stones. The police deployed in front of the court attempted to stop the mob, which resulted in a brawl.  No loss was reported in the incident.

Four JUI-F activists, who tried to break into the court and threatened police officers with dire consequences, were arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2013.