PTI to continue protest drive against polls rigging

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday announced to continue its protest drive against polls rigging in the city till Election Commission accepts its demand of re-election in Karachi.
Addressing a joint press conference here at PTI Sindh Secretariat, PTI leaders Ashraf Qureshi, Subhan Ali Sahil, Raja Azher, Israr Abbasi and others said that on May 11 planned rigging was carried out by a political party, which had lost its mandate in the largest city of the country, with the support of law enforcement agencies.
They said that PTI candidates had formally submitted proofs of rigging to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and now ECP should accept the actual mandate of the metropolis. "As per party policy all PTI candidates have decided to follow their appeals in the election tribunals, whereas public protests will be held on every Sunday in Karachi till justice is done," they added.
PTI leaders also criticised the post-election role of ECP. They added that on one hand, the ECP had restricted candidates to incur maximum Rs 1.5 million on election campaign, while on the other hand it was demanding millions of rupees payment for thumbprint verification of votes.
"Despite the release of Rs 90 million by the federal government to ECP for ballot papers' verification through thumbprint, the ECP is asking a fee of Rs 15 per voter from the candidates," they wondered. They said that free and fair election was ECP's responsibility, therefore the thumb verification expanses should be born by ECP itself instead of candidates.
Karachi's mandate was stolen on May 11, they added, saying that a large numbers vote to PTI candidates proved that now the people of Karachi want a peaceful city. They said and Karachi's voters had proved that they were socially and politically responsive. Media reports and several videos have confirmed that Karachi election were rigged by a political party, therefore every citizen of Karachi and almost all political parties are demanding re-election in the entire city with strict arrangements like re-polling in NA250.
"PTI is already on Karachi streets against this rigging from last many days and will continue its protest to save Karachi," the PTI leaders vowed. They alleged that the PTI candidates were being threatened by Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) armed workers. "We are making it clear that any mishap with PTI leaders or workers will not be tolerated and MQM would be responsible for any untoward incident," they added They appealed to law enforcement agencies to provide security to PTI leaders and candidates. Regarding Zahra Shahid Hussain murder case, they said that FIR was registered by police. However, PTI leaders showed dissatisfaction on the FIR's content, saying that police completely ignored Imran Khan's statement in the FIR.