MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP

[Lusi]

MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP
** PPP leader asks CEC to take notice of attacks on party candidates, workers

Staff Report *

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party’s Karachi-based leaders have accused the MQM of making District Central a ‘no-go area’ for the party’s electoral contestants.

Former senators Taj Haider and Rashid Rabbani and former MNA Prof ND Khan have asked the Chief Election Commissioner to take notice of the attacks on the PPP’s candidates and workers in District Central.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s secretariat, they asked the CEC to issue orders that all political parties should run their election campaign without any harassment from rival political party candidates.

Accompanied by the PPP’s nominated candidates from District Central, the PPP’s leaders vowed that they would not step out of the electoral arena despite violent tactics used by the rival political party. Prof ND Khan urged Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan to play a neutral role instead of playing the role of the MQM’s man. He urged him to take notice of the attacks on the PPP’s workers in the city.

“It is a tradition for the MQM to always suppress political opponents,” Taj Haider alleged. He blamed the former ruling coalition parties allied with President Pervez Musharraf of scaring the voters so that they remain at home instead of casting their vote on February 18.

The PPP’s electoral contestant from NA-246 accused the MQM’s activists of opening fire upon him and workers of the PPP at Ayesha Manzil when they were putting up their party’s flags and Benazir Bhutto’s posters. He said MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and the party’s Rabita Committee In-charge Anwar Alam should be deemed responsible for any harm caused to him. He alleged that all SHOs in the city were posted on the recommendation of the MQM with a view to manipulate the electoral process. He also claimed that the City District Government of Karachi’s resources were being misused for the election campaigns of the MQM’s candidates.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\02\05\story_5-2-2008_pg7_13

[teggy]

Re: MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP

That is the most absurd thing i’ve ever heard. :no:

I do believe everyone should be able to campaign where-ever they wish.

[Rebel_X]

Re: MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP

Just to noe, this is not ,uch different from the issues ppl face in campaigning in interior sindh for example, or in rural strongholds of other parties.

if you pick up election time stories from any election, you will find the iuntimidation, blocking and interference by local strongarms for teh benefit of their parties.

this ghunda gardee has to stop, no matter who the party is. I agree with teggy.

[PyariCgudia]

Re: MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP

PPP is known to do the same trash.

[ehtasab]

Re: MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP

Was Lyari open for "competition" back in their days? :) I do not wish to condone the violence against other parties' campaign offices/workers but people living in glass houses should not be throwing stones.

[Ali_R]

Re: MQM has made part of Karachi no-go area for election candidates: PPP

PPP is known to do the same trash.

Acha?! Prove it! Besides the gaghidaars in Sindh you will find no other incidents. But there is a difference between those gadhidaari badshahs and the rest of Pakistan!