Fear of rigging: 10-party alliance demands army deployment inside polling stations

PPP leader Zahid Bhurgari says the troops should be present inside and outside the polling stations

HYDERABAD:

The Tameer-i-Hyderabad Ittehad, an alliance of 10 political parties contesting the local government elections, has demanded the army’s deployment at all the polling stations. “The troops should be present inside and outside the polling stations,” said Pakistan Peoples Party leader Zahid Bhurgari and Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Tahir Majeed at a press conference in Hyderabad on Saturday. The coalition is contending against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the elections for Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

In view of the tragic killings in Khairpur, it is necessary to put in place the security measures that can help avoid eruption of violence and prevent rigged balloting, said Bhurgari. Majeed alleged that the MQM continues to harass the coalition’s candidates. “Without the army, they will harass the voters and occupy the polling stations,” he said.



The Ittehad leaders claimed all the returning officers favoured the MQM during the processes of filing nomination papers, scrutiny and withdrawals. “We don’t expect them to be neutral on election day,” said PTI’s Usman Kennedy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2015.