JI asks ECP to review K-P LG polls

Urges K-P chief minister to call an all parties conference over the polls

PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)  chapter on Thursday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to call a meeting in Peshawar to address complaints of rigging in the recently held local government elections in the province.

According a statement, the party, which is also a coalition partner of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government, has also asked the K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to summon an all parties conference (APC) to discuss the polls.

Read: PTI streaks ahead in polls marred by violence

The JI statement, quoting the party's provincial chief Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, asked the ECP to devise a mechanism to prevent poll rigging in future.

He said his party wanted the polls to be held under a biometric system, which was rejected.

The PTI had streaked ahead of its political rivals in K-P’s local government elections against the backdrop of violent clashes, mismanagement and inadequate security measures. Its opponents raised a red flag over the fairness of the poll, accusing the ruling party in K-P of rigging.

Read: Taking a stand: ANP demands dissolution of K-P Assembly

The JI further alleged that the PTI government had used local administration and the police to rig the polls, joining a chorus of voices from the Awami National Party and the Pakistan Peoples Party.