MQM to stage protest sit-in against LG election results

• MQM has decided to stage a protest sit-in in Karachi
• MQM had converged a general workers’ session
• It will increase public pressure to nullify the election result

KARACHI: Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM) has decided to stage a protest sit-in against the results of the Local Government (LG) elections in Karachi.

In this regard, MQM has decided to converge a general workers’ session to increase public pressure in an attempt to annul the results of the second phase of local bodies elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The MQM had boycotted the polls in both cities held on January 15 after alleging that the elections were already rigged and demands for delimitation of constituencies were not heard.

The absence of the party from the polls led to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as the two largest parties in the polls, followed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The MQM has now decided to stage a protest against the second phase of LG elections. It has also decided to consult on holding a sit-in to protest for nullifying the election result.

During the meeting, the party will also discuss the preparations for the upcoming by-elections of National Assembly seats. The party is considering fielding senior leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal for the by-polls.

The meeting will also discuss the strategy regarding the mobilization of workers on social media. Sources revealed that the MQM stands by its stance on controversial constituencies and census.

The party is now considering holding a protest sit-in to press for his demands and nullify the result of the municipal polls. MQM Convenor Khalid Maqbool  Siddiqui announced at the protest sit-in will held on Sunday, February 12, at Fawara Chowk in Saddar.

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MQM-P requests CJ to take sou motu of LG polls in Sindh

MQM-P moved CJ to take notice of LG polls in Sindh Khalid...

Earlier, the MQM requested the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice over allegedly irregularities in local body elections.

MQM-P convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial stating that the elections were conducted in an illegal and unconstitutional manner.

The letter stated that the 22nd Amendment was violated in the elections process. He claimed that the notification for the poll schedule was issued even though the quorum for the election commission was not complete.

He said the rights of the citizens of Sindh were denied in the elections in the disputed constituencies, while international laws were also ignored in conducting local elections.

It maintained that the ECP quorum comprised of one chief election commissioner and two members from July 25, 2021 to May 30, 2022. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, seats remained vacant for ten months. Under this situation, the ECP was not authorised to issue any notification, it stated.

The application pointed out that the ECP notified the delimitation schedule and constituencies with an incomplete of quorum was a violation of Section 218 (2) of the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016.

It cited that the ensuing delimitation of towns and unions an open violation of the Constitution. It added that hholding the election on January 15, 2023 on the basis of the voter list of 2021 was also illegal.

Khalid Maqbool stated in the petition that on these grounds, the municipal elections held on January 15 should be declared null and void.