ECP summons PSP chief Mustafa Kamal over bypolls violence

KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a notice to Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal for attacking a polling station during the NA-240 by-elections.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja over incidents of violence and mismanagement during the bypolls in Karachi.

The PSP chief has been asked to appear before the commission personally on June 22. He has been alleged to have attacking Polling Station No. 165 during the violence-marred bypolls.

The provincial election commissioner briefed the participants on the violence during the NA-240 elections, including the stealing of ballot papers from polling stations 51 and 165 and the harassment of voters.

The ECP said that the clash between political workers took place near a party office and action action was beyond its jurisdiction. It added that the provincial government and law enforcement agencies were responsible for taking action against those responsible for the violence.

CEC Raja Sultan said it is the provincial government’s responsibility to provide a peaceful environment to voters. He appealed to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to summon a special meeting to prevent similar incidents.

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On the other hand, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chief Mustafa Kamal rejected NA-240 by-poll result and accused that MQM-P was made victorious through the rigging.

Addressing a press conference, he alleged that the election was ‘stolen’ from PSP which was the strongest contender among all contestants. He claimed that 13,927 voters – around 3,500 more than the wining candidate – were cast in favour of PSP but the polls were rigged to benefit the MQM-P,

He said that a PSP activist was killed while 10 others were injured. He also claimed to have sustained a bullet injury during the clash. Kamal said that more than 40 PSP workers were arrested later during the night.

He asserted that PSP workers did not have any weapon and did not retaliate for the sake of peace and protection of the state. “It is not acceptable that we get hit by the bullets and the state remains silent,” he added.

MQM-P’s Muhammad Abubakar won the NA-240 Korangi seat during a violence marred by-election after receiving 10,683 votes.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik came in second, followed by Muhajir Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) while the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) came a distance fifth.

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