Farooq Sattar demands re-election in Karachi

KARACHI: Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Farooq Sattar believes that the mandate of Karachi voters has been ‘snatched’ and demands re-election in the metropolis.

Speaking to media here, he said votes’ polled in Karachi during the July 25 polls didn’t represent right mandate of the Karachiites.

Earlier in the day, the Sindh High Court rejected a petition seeking disqualification of Sattar. The petition was pending with the court for some days.

The counsel of the Election Commission of Pakistan told the court that the polls had taken place and Mr. Sattar lost from his constituency, hence plea to disqualify the MQM-P leader should be disposed of.

Petitioner Iqbal Kazmi had contended in his plea that Sattar had concealed 23 cases against him in his nomination papers while he is declared absconder in a few other cases as well.

The court today termed the plea inadmissible and rejected it.

On Sunday, Farooq Sattar submitted a plea with the ECP for recount in two constituencies from where he contested the elections.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Aamir Liaquat won from NA-245 after defeating Dr Sattar, while the MQM-P leader also faced defeat from Dr Arif Alvi in NA-247.

Sattar said that the party’s chief polling agent and other polling agents did not receive Form 45, alleging that at the time of counting votes their polling agents were forced out.

In NA-245, Sattar received 34,247 votes against Liaquat, whereas in NA-247, the MQM-P leader received 24,146 votes against Alvi’s 91,020 votes.