Issues in PS-114 localities eclipsed amid political struggle
Residents have used their right to vote twice, but constituency stands sans MPA
July 19, 2017
KARACHI: The residents of localities under Sindh Assembly’s PS-114 have used their right to vote twice to get their voices heard in the Parliament. But the efforts have gone in vain. Their areas have turned into filth dumps sans an MPA.
Shakeel, who runs a garment shop in Azam Basti area of the constituency, has a swarm of flies surrounding his setup, keeping customers away, as heap of trash and filth lies outside where the shop is situated.
“They come waving in big cars when they want to bag votes from us,” another local told Geo News while talking about the candidates who visit the constituency before elections. “But they never return once the work is done.”
Even over a week after the by-election has ended, posters of political parties are seen flying in the streets, adding to the trash heap as no one returned to clean the mess left behind.
Although by-election was held for the seat of PS-114 on July 9, the constituency does still not have an MPA. The matter is under question with the Election Commission of Pakistan as candidate who contested the poll from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Kamran Tessori, raised concerned over the victory of Pakistan Peoples Party’s Saeed Ghani, who got the maximum number of votes.
Verdict reserved
The verdict on the issue remained unannounced on Wednesday by the ECP.
During the hearing, Tessori’s counsel Farogh Naseem told Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan rules were violated when votes were being counted for 21 polling stations of the constituency. He added the returning officer did not issue a notice to his client, Tessori, when the votes were being counted. Therefore, he demanded, the by-election be declared void and votes be verified by National Database and Registration Authority.
However, PPP’s Saeed Ghani’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan said people were voting for PPP after MQM has cut ties with its founder, Altaf Hussain. Ahsan added if MQM-P should take the issue up with the election tribunal if they have issues with the by-election result.
After hearing the arguments of both the sides, the election commissioner reserved the verdict.
In May 2017, the Supreme Court dismissed Marwat’s appeal challenging the election tribunal’s decision, paving the way for the by-poll.
With additional input from Sarfraz Raja in Islamabad
