PML-N stages protest against rigging

Party leaders later held meeting with the provincial election commissioner and presented a memorandum of understanding

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) staged a sit-in and protested before the provincial Election Commission of Pakistan against massive rigging in the first phase of local government elections and demanded the deployment of army in the next phase. Party leaders, led by Muhammad Ismail Rahoo, who heads the party in the province, later held meeting with the provincial election commissioner and presented a memorandum of understanding. "We have requested the election authorities for various complaints, but no action has been taken as yet," said Rahoo, while addressing the workers and leaders of the party, who were carrying placards and banners in their hands. "We will not accept the presence of police inside polling stations," said the leaders. "Our demand is to deploy the army and Rangers inside the polling booths." They added that fair and free elections are not possible without the army. The sit-in lasted for one-and-a-half-hours.