Coalition partners flay government over massive rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan polls

13 Nov, 2009

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League- (PML-Q) and Coalition partner of the government, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in the National Assembly have expressed grave concern over Gilgit-Baltistan elections in the National Assembly and claimed that pre and post-polls rigging were resorted to in the elections.
Ahsan Iqbal of PML-N said on the floor of the House that the government should have established neutral caretaker set-up for holding free, fair and transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan by implementing Charter of Democracy (CoD).Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi of MQM claimed that state machinery has been used in the elections. He said that the role of management during election was one sided.
He also claimed that the candidates of his party were threatened of dire consequences. "If the government did not take notice of such threats then it will not be possible for us to accept the results of elections," he said. Amir Muqam of PML-Q said that his party has reservations on Gilgit-Baltistan elections.
He said that the government failed in holding free, fair and transparent elections. Earlier PML-Q twice pointed out at the short quorum to embarrass the government, once at the start of the session causing twenty minutes suspension of the proceedings while second time after the maghrib prayers which the treasury saved by managing the required members.

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