Farooq Sattar alleges post-poll rigging in elections

KARACHI: Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM-P) on Thursday reacted to the rather disappointing elections results and the defeat of several prominent leaders.

Senior leader Farooq Sattar, who suffered a crushing defeat in two constituencies, said that the rigging was held in a very intricate manner, and although there was no such rigging during the polls, the results were altered afterwards.

MQM convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who secured his seat, said that the results have left a dark stain on the elections credibility. He called on the chief election commissioner to resign over the allegations.

Siddiqui alleged that pre-planned rigging took place in urban areas of Sindh to deprive them of election victory, which started with under-presentation in the population census and delimitation of constituencies to affect their vote bank.

He said that there were sporadic complaints made while the polls were underway, but the actual rigging took place afterwards.

MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari said the result of NA-240 has still not being announced which is rasing severe doubts over the election process. He said that their polling agents were threatened and results were handed over to them.

He said that it was the first time that allegations of rigging were being placed on the election commission who has robbed the people’s mandate. He said that election staff forced their polling agents out of the polling stations, and the nation cannot be run on such contingency arrangements