KARACHI: Different political and religious parties on Wednesday announced a three-day sit-in outside the Sindh Election Commission office against the absence of army personnel during the process of voters verification and not carrying out new delimitation of constituencies in Karachi.

The announcement was made by the political leaders while addressing a protest assembly set up outside the provincial election commission office.

The leaders informed that the sit-in will start from Jan 26 at 3 pm and will continue for three days.

The leaders, while addressing the gathering, said that by avoiding the Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue, the verification process has been made suspicious and unreliable.

Criticising CEC Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, they said that he has committed contempt of court by issuing a statement in which the CEC said that delimitation of constituencies was not possible before the upcoming elections.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, General Secretary Naseem Siddiqui, Saleem Zia of PML-N, Nadir Akmal Leghari of PTI, Umer Sadiq of JUI-F, Mehfooz Yar Khan of AML, Mazhar Rahoja of Awami Tehreek, Mustaqeem Noorani of JUP, Matloob Awan of ST, Irfanullah Marwat of PML-N were among those who addressed the rally.

Apparently referring to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mehanti charged that the electoral process was being hijacked by a particular political party. He claimed the SC orders were being violated, saying that electoral rolls were once again being prepared at offices of that political party.

They demanded that the chief election commissioner should take decisions in favour of citizens without accepting pressure from any party.

Saleem Zia said the appointment of Fakruddin G Ibrahim as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was aimed at holding free, fair and transparent elections, and he should reject political pressure from any side.

Maulana Umer Sadiq said opposition parties were ready to sacrifice for restoration of real democracy through correct voter lists.

Irfanullah Marwat said the SC verdict was not being implemented in true letter and spirit while Mustaqeem Noorani said that each and every party has reposed full confidence in the election commission and it should refrain by favouring any particular party.

Moreover, Mehfooz Yar Khan welcomed the ECP order pertaining to ban political recruitment in the government departments.

Matloob Awan, on the occasion, said the political and religious parties have shown unity for the rights of citizens of Karachi – DawnNews/PPI