Opposition parties stage protest against election 'rigging' in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Major opposition parties held a protest demonstration against alleged rigging in the general elections held on July 25.

Led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart Raja Zafarul Haq, the protesters marched towards the Election Commission of Pakistan to record their protest.

Barbed wire were erected around the ECP headquarters as part of security arrangements, although the opposition said it would be a peaceful protest .

The protest was attended by the PMLN, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA),  the Awami National Party and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).

Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Yousaf Raza Gilani, Zahid Khan, Buhsra Gohar, Sherry Rehman were prominent among those in attendance.

PMLN President Shahbaz Sharif, who was also due to attend the protest, could not make it due to bad weather, according to his party.

The participants chanted slogans against  the alleged vote fraud.

Speaking to the media, Raja Zafarul Haq said the opposition parties have rejected the outcome of election. "We want to tell the world  that our people have rejected the election," said he.

Senator Sherry Rehman of the PPPP demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner resign  for failing to hold free and fair election.