Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Friday called for deployment of army at polling stations on the elections day to ensure peaceful voting in the city. Addressing a joint press conference at Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq, JI Sindh Chief, Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui and JI Karachi chief, Muhammad Hussain Mehnati, accused Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of preventing political parties especially JI from running election campaign.
A representative of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Mustaqeem Noorani also spoke during the news conference and showed fears over the growing tension ahead of the polls. They also demanded of the caretaker government to remove barriers laid to block the city' several areas for citizens and political parties. They said the government should act to make the city free of "no-go" areas.
They alleged that the police was aiding the MQM in torture and kidnappings of JI workers. They maintained the MQM torn the JI flags, banners and posters in many part of the city. "The MQM threatens the JI workers in a number of areas including Gulistan-e-Johar, F.B. Area, New Karachi, North Nazimabad and Defence View and prevents them from running election campaign," they alleged.
They said the MQM activists on Thursday night tortured two JI workers, Ejaz and Saad Ali Khan, in FB Area while they were displaying party flags and banners. They said that the MQM men also attempted to kidnap these activists. They said the police also refused to lodge FIR against the MQM activists on the complaint of JI General Secretary Karachi, Naseem Siddiqui.
They called the police a "B team" of the MQM, alleging the law enforcers were aiding the "terrorists". They called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and caretaker government to take immediate action on the incident. Criticising the MQM, they said "the MQM set forth its manifesto to the citizens by going on strikes twice just in three days". They reiterated their demand for deployment of army men at every polling station during election scheduled for May 11.
They said the police have failed to cope with security issues. They said the polls should take place under the supervision of army due to security concerns in the city. To a question, they said the credibility of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakruddin G. Ibrahim was largely attached with his performance of holding free and fair polls.