All guns blazing: Tripartite alliance calls for dismissal of PTI-led govt

Mian Iftikhar says CM doctored LG results, announces a shutter-down strike on June 10

PESHAWAR:

As the dust settled on the May 30 local government election shenanigans, the tripartite alliance of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s political parties has come out guns blazing and called for the dismissal of the Pervez Khattak administration.

Striking a chord

Going for the jugular, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Peoples Party have chosen to give Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf a taste of its own medicine. Addressing a press conference following a meeting at PPP leader Najamuddin Khan’s residence, alliance president Mian Iftikhar Hussain said heads should roll following the local government polls debacle.

“Pervez Khattak is directly involved in rigging and doctoring results,” he said, calling for a province-wide shutter-down strike on June 10.

The ANP stalwart said all political parties will be contacted and requested to join hands for the cause. He said calling an all parties conference will consume time as the scenario demands direct action. “A committee comprising Aqil Shah, Jalil Jan, Rahimdad Khan, Najamuddin, Shujaul Mulk and I will reach out to the parties,” he added.

Recently exonerated from a PTI worker’s alleged murder case, Mian Iftikhar said the K-P government should resign voluntarily before the alliance takes to the streets. “Imran Khan himself admits polls were rigged. Their allies are also pointing fingers at each other,” he said. Jamaat-e-Islami had earlier accused the ruling party of using government machinery to rig the polls. Mian Iftikhar added it is impossible to conduct free and fair elections with PTI in office.

An act undone

The ANP leader said the inadequate K-P LG Act 2013 should be revoked.

“A caretaker set-up should be formed and allowed to revamp the law,” he said, adding polls conducted under the enforced act will not be accepted.

Mentioning his ‘victimisation’, Mian Iftikhar said, “We are not afraid of arrests or trials. Those killed or injured on May 30 should be compensated,” he added.

He also lambasted government officials for siding with PTI, saying government apparatus was used to ensure the ruling parties are not embarrassed. “They are still making attempts to change results,” he said.

Mian Iftikhar defended the Election Commission of Pakistan and said the government pinned the entire responsibility of irregularities and law and order on the commission. “They carried out delimitation themselves and never let the ECP function freely,” he said, accusing the government of dictating the commission in an arbitrary way.

Mian Iftikhar refused an outright rejection of poll results despite all the accusations and announcements of decisive game plans. “It is premature to arrive at this conclusion,” he said.

Also speaking on the occasion, Mulk condemned the arrest of Mian Iftikhar and demanded the government to investigate the matter.

Later in the day, a delegation of the alliance visited JI headquarters, Markaz-e-Islami, and discussed rigging issues with JI leaders.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2015.