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Rigging in Karachi LB polls: Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announces to stage sit-ins on 10 major roads of Karachi on March 17

ISLAMABAD, March 14 (SABAH): Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced to stage sit-ins on 10 major roads of Karachi on March 17, over not meting out justice in results of local bodies polls in union councils of the city. 

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stressed upon all the parties to accept their constitutional and democratic right. He said they can hold negotiation with anyone but one thing was clear that Jamaat-e-Islami will give mayor to the city, adding they will defend each and every vote and seat of the city. He said no-one will be allowed to act according to his self-will.  We will defend our rights as per law and Constitution. “We will use each and every legal and constitutional option against such a fraud,” he added.  

Naeem expressed these views after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducted hearing of a case pertaining to the Karachi local government (LG) elections.  He further said that by-elections were not held in 11 UCs.

“On whose request is the ECP not conducting elections?” he questioned, adding that it is being reinforced that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is influencing the Election Commission.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader said that PPP has started making fake ‘Form 11’s’ and that the ECP should have a forensic audit conducted. “Even after two months, justice has not been served in the Election Commission,” he said.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the bags carrying the votes were opened and double-stamped, adding that only JI’s votes were tampered with. He further said that elections in the 11 remaining UCs should be held immediately.

“The reputation of the ECP is being destroyed,” he said. “This is a test case for the Election Commission. It should take a decision without coming under pressure, otherwise, we will protest on ten major highways of Karachi,” the Jamaat-e-Islami leader added.

Meanwhile, ECP reserved its decision in the Karachi LG elections case. The case was heard at the Election Commission.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyers argued that the party’s victory had been changed to defeat and refused to accept the results of the recount. The commission’s Balochistan member said that they “will not spare anyone involved in irregularities,” and will make a decision after conducting a review.

Further, the ECP dismissed the returning officer (RO) of Union Council 7 Sultanabad, Kemari. An inquiry committee headed by the provincial election commissioner was formed to conduct an inquiry against the RO and ordered to submit an immediate report.

The committee will examine the role of the RO and gather evidence on electoral fraud. Recommendations regarding disciplinary and criminal action against the RO will also be formulated.

The ECP appointed the regional election commissioner as the new RO who will record the statements of all the candidates and provide the results within 7 days and reserved its decision in the Karachi LG polls case.

Last week, the Jamaat-e-Islami moved the Sindh High Court regarding the delay in holding LG polls in Karachi’s remaining UCs. Elections had been postponed on these seats due to the death of contestants. The court was requested to decide a schedule to complete the electoral process for the local government setup in Karachi.