MQM, PTI sit-ins against alleged vote-rigging, ECP continue

KARACHI/ LAHORE: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) sit-in outside Election Commission of Pakistan demanding re-polling in NA-250 constituency of Karachi continues unabated.

Hundreds of MQM activists, including women, converged in front of the ECP office Tuesday night. The protestors were holding banners/placards inscribed with slogans against the election commission authorities for alleged rigging as well as mismanagement in the polling process.

Criticizing the Election Commission of Pakistan decision to hold election at few polling stations for the National Assembly constituency NA-250 Karachi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain has demanded fresh polls in entire constituency.

Addressing a sit-in organized by the party outside the provincial Election Commission office, he said “we have the right to defend ourselves, we will protest when anybody tries to deprive us of our mandate.”

He said that people had gathered outside the EC office within one hour of MQM Coordination Committee call. Altaf Hussain said that upright people should be inducted in the Election Commission and people of entire NA-250 Constituency whether they were rich or poor should be given right of franchise.

He said conducting re-polling in certain areas was discriminatory and the MQM rejected it.

He also warned against use of force against the MQM and said that even women would put up resistance. The MQM chief applauded party workers and said that he had eliminated difference between the poor and rich.
Altaf Hussain said the number of sit-in participants would ramp up gradually with the passage of time.

Meanwhile, the on going sit-in of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in protest against alleged rigging in general elections in Lahore entered fourth day on Wednesday.

The PTI has also been protesting in Karachi against vote rigging, calling for reelection in the city under the army.

Dozens of PTI workers have been camping out at Lalik Chowk in Defence area since May 12 in protest against rigging in NA-122 to NA-125 constituencies.

The participants demand that ECP take notice of stealing of their mandate and order recounting in the constituencies.

PTI says that PML-N candidates influenced election results and turned PTI victory to defeat in collaboration with government’s machinery.

On Tuesday, the party decided to limit the 24-hour protest to two-hours.
Senior PTI leader Hamid Khan announced it in Lahore, saying that PTI would now hold sit-in from 6pm to 8pm daily in the city.