Islamabad: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Majlis-e-Alam — an alliance of religious parties — and several others aligned against prime minister in-waiting Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), staged a protest outside the Election Commission (EC) office here on Wednesday.
The protest was held against the alleged electoral fraud in the July 25 general elections. It will be headed by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif who is set to join it later, Geo News reported.
PPP leader Sherry Rehman told the media that it was necessary to remain peaceful and demanded the resignation of the poll body officials. “We will go to the Parliament and unite political parties,” she said.
PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq claimed that the election results did not reflect the voters’ choice. “We want to tell the world that the public rejects (these) elections. We are united on this matter,” he said, adding that the EC was not allowed to fulfil its duty.
Commenting on the developments in the federal capital, PTO leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the opposition parties had the right to stage a peaceful protest. “We are not afraid at all. (The opposition) can request to open any constituency and examine the record, which is safe with poll body,” he said.
Qureshi claimed that retabulation in more than 30 constituencies had already taken place, but the opposition did not gain anything from the exercise. “It is but the opposition’s right to request recount.”
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police devised a security plan in view of the protest, under which only Members of Parliament were to be allowed to walk up to the EC office.
