Local government: MNA Jamshed Dasti calls for re-elections

Says CM Khattak should be arrested for rigging polls

PESHAWAR: Joining the bandwagon of politicos asking for the provincial government’s dismissal, MNA Jamshed Dasti on Sunday expressed his reservations over the local government polls and demanded re-elections and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s resignation. 

Addressing journalists in the city at the residence of Awami National Party (ANP) leader Tahir Nadeem, the independent MNA said the provincial government failed to conduct free and transparent local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He demanded CM Khattak be arrested for allegedly rigging the polls.

“A record number of irregularities and clashes were reported in this election in which around 35 people died. This clearly shows the PTI-led government’s failure,” said Dasti.

Holding the PTI government responsible for election-related deaths, Dasti demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan declare the polls void and CM Khattak be arrested.

According to the MNA, ballot boxes were stolen by party workers from polling stations everywhere and hundreds of bogus votes were polled for their parties.

“PTI chief Imran Khan had claimed they would conduct an exemplary election in K-P, but all his claims proved wrong,”
said Dasti.

Speaking about Minister for Revenue Ali Amin Gandapur’s misconduct, Dasti said Imran kept changing his statements regarding the minister’s behaviour.

The lawmaker urged the chief justices of Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court to take notice of poll irregularities. Commenting on the recently-unveiled federal budget for 2015-16, Dasti said it is not poor-friendly but instead is only friendly for the Sharif brothers and will provide no relief for the masses.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2015.