appealed to their community members to vote for MQM.
Amin-ul-Haq, a member of the MQM central executive committee, told The News that the results of the NA-246 by-elections would prove to the beginning of the end for the PTI.
“The media and analysts have been glorifying the PTI, but we will see the start of its downfall on April 23,” he added. “Electoral politics is a different science where only hollow and counter statements don’t change the results. It needs substantial functioning and grass-root level understanding.”
Haq said elections could not be won with the help of “unseen” forces, and required ground work and mass force that the PTI lacked.
He pointed out that the PTI and JI had not even asked for independent observers i.e. FAFEN for the polls
‘ECP not playing its role’
JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said the Election Commission of Pakistan had not taken the steps required to ensure that the by-polls were held in a fair and transparent manner.
“The ECP is appears to be biased and likely favour the MQM in the by-polls,” he added.
Rehman was speaking at press conference at the party’s central election camp in Naseerabad.
JI candidate for NA-246 Rashid Naseem, Central district chief Munim Zafar Khan and information secretary Zahid Askari were also present on the occasion.
Rehman said Farooq Sattar’s statement wherein he had demanded doing away with the condition of voters presenting their original identity cards during polling had exposed the MQM’s rigging plan.
The JI leader demanded that the authorities concerned should install biometric systems at polling stations to verify voters and also check their original identity cards.
“The JI its campaign for the by-polls has organised two massive public gatherings, staged rallies and also met the constituents in a door-to-drive,” he said.
“We received an overwhelming response from the masses and that shows that the people of Karachi want change,” he added.
JI candidate Naseem appealed to the constituents to vote for the “tarazu” (weigh scale), jis party’s election symbol, for a prosperous and secure future.
He vowed that the JI would resolve the Moosa Colony residents’ issue of identity card renewal and also make efforts to complete the K-4 water scheme.