Continuing with its past practice, the rulers have again blatantly rigged the by-election in NA-132 Sheikhupura, where bogus voting took place while the opposition candidate was harassed.
PML-N general secretary Punjab Zaeem Qadri made the allegation during a press conference held here on Sunday. ARD candidate for NA-132 Ghulam Shabbir Qadri was also present on the occasion. "The Chaudary-league used the government machinery to get their candidate elected in the by-elections, Zaeem said, adding "rigging of the elections tantamount to denying the democratic people of their fundamental rights to choose their own representatives."
He was of the view that both General Pervez Musharraf and Chaudarys were specially targeting the PML-N candidates, which was reflected in the recent elections.
He alleged that in NA-132, with the backing of his brother Intelligence Bureau DG Brigadier Ijaz Shah, Papu Shah took captive a balloting station and stuffed bogus votes in ballot boxes in favour of the government-backed candidates.
He appealed to all democratic forces in the country to reject the elections and plan a future line of action to form a grand alliance to counter the ruler's ill practices. "We do not accept the present Chief Election Commissioner or the Election Commission, as it has deliberately ignored the open rigging of the elections, he said and demanded resignation of General Musharraf and surrendering to the law.
He further demanded constitution of an independent election commission under which free and fair election should be held. "The army should return to the barracks and leave the country's affairs in the hand of the people," he said and added, "at present, the country is in captive in the hands of the few generals."
KBD: On Kalabagh dam, he said that the issue should be settled developing consensus among the political forces of all the provinces, for which a democratic government was prerequisite. Hence, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto should be permitted to return to the country and participate in the national politics.
Zaeem also appealed to the people to wage a struggle against the generals and remove them for their fundamental rights.
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