CEC assures presence of army personnel during voters' verification process
29 January, 2013
KARACHI: The sit-in by 20 political and religious parties against what they called the absence of army personnel in ongoing voters verification process outside the Provincial Election Commission office ended on Monday after assurance by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of presence of army personnel during the voters verification process. The opposition leaders, however, reiterated that they would resume protest against the ongoing verification of electoral rolls if the Supreme Court verdict was not implemented in its true spirit. CEC Fakhruddin G Ibrahim met the leaders of opposition parties at his office. During the meeting, the CEC assured them of the presence of army personnel in voters' verification process from today (Tuesday). The leaders expressed their satisfaction over the assurance of CEC, however, warned that if the SC verdict was implemented, then they would continue and expand the sit-ins and protests. They vowed that the electoral process would not be let hijacked at any cost, adding that the main reason of the deteriorating law and order situation was the result of unfair elections. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamaat Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Muhammad Hussain Mahenti, Secretary Naseem Siddiqui, Saleem Zia of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jam Madad Ali of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), Shah Owais Noorani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Syed Hafeezuddin of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Matloob Awan of Sunni Tehreek (ST), Ghulam Mustafa Farooqui of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), Maulana Taj Hanfi of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Syed Shah Muhammad Shah of Sindh United Party (SUP) and others addressed the participants of the sit-in. During the sit-in, the leaders of opposition fully backed up the decision of sit-in in Islamabad on Thursday. Addressing the participants, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said the CEC Ibrahim was indulged in contempt of court by violating the SC verdict over voters' verification. He further said the opposition parties would express discontent if CEC Ibrahim changed his decision. Hafiz said some forces were in favour of holding general elections, while the people of Sindh had now understood the game of President Zardari. Mahenti said the government had given free hand to terrorists, who had seized the office of the Election Commission. He informed the opposition parties had intimated the CEC that they would not accept results of general elections without rectification of voters' verification. He further informed the CEC had assured the presence of army personnel in voters' verification process from January 29. He demanded the presence of army personnel inside the polling booths on the day of elections. On the occasion, he announced the full support of PML-N sit-in on Thursday in Islamabad. Afaq demands re-verification of voter lists Chairman of Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan Afaq Ahmed here on Monday submitted a letter to Provincial Officer Election Commission Sindh Mahboob Alam, expressing concern over ongoing process to rectify the distorted voters list in Karachi. After submission of the letter, Afaq Ahmed told media in ECP office that there would be no chance of free, fair and transparent election. He said ECP should verify the voter lists in Karachi as per the Supreme Court order. Afaq said Mahboob Alam had ensured that ECP would re-verify 10 percent of the verified votes and if any rigging found, it would verify the whole lists again. To a question, Ahmed said: "Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan will participate in upcoming election." At the same time, he said their party workers are still hiding and their lives are in danger. Afaq said he visited the ECP office today to inform them about the reservations of Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan over the voter lists verification process. End.
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