PTI should not form govt until all constituencies are opened: MMA

Published July 31, 2018
MMA chief Fazalur Rehman leaves after attending a meeting in Islamabad. —AFP
MMA chief Fazalur Rehman leaves after attending a meeting in Islamabad. —AFP
A group of political parties announced a protest demanding new elections following allegations of rigging in last week's polls. —AFP
A group of political parties announced a protest demanding new elections following allegations of rigging in last week's polls. —AFP

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Tuesday demanded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to follow through on his victory speech promise and "open all constituencies".

"We demand that every constituency be opened and that the government should not be formed on the basis of current results," said the chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as well as MMA, after a discussion between leaders of the alliance. He also demanded thumb verification of all votes.

He alleged that the PTI had emerged as the largest political party "only as a result of rigging" and should refrain from forming a cabinet [before the prime minister is elected] as it does not have majority.

"When PTI does not have the majority, other parties have the right to attempt to form the government," Rahman said, alleging that the party was engaging in the "worst horse trading in history".

Showing flexibility over his previous stance of not taking oath in the new National Assembly, he said that the Jamaat-i-Islami's (JI) suggestion that elected MMA members should sit in the NA will be taken to the All Parties Conference (APC).

Rahman also asked MMA workers to continue protesting at local level and said that a call for national protests would be given after the APC.

He also asked the ECP to accept that it has been unable to perform its constitutional duty.

Rigging allegations

Rigging allegations by various political parties — including PPP, PML-N, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and MMA — had emerged soon after results started coming in on July 25.

Parties questioned the delay in compilation of results and alleged that their polling agents were not provided Form 45 at various polling stations.

PPP has said that it would sit in the parliament despite reservations over the process while the PML-N has demanded a judicial probe into the alleged rigging.

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...