Blaming the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the federal interior minister among others for forcing the withdrawal of its candidates from at least one constituency, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Saturday announced the boycott of general elections in Azad Kashmir – after the Election Commission had postponed the polling for constituencies within Karachi. The decision was reached at a meeting of MQM’s Coordination Committee and announced by Dr Farooq Sattar at a press conference in MQM headquarters Nine Zero. Sattar said the MQM is gaining acceptance in Kashmir and emerging as the third option for oppressed and downtrodden people of the country and it was expected that the MQM would gain additional seats in the coming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) assembly elections.
“We understand that stopping the people of Kashmir from their right to vote by a political party that claims to be the champion of public and democracy is not only worthy of strong condemnation but also dishonourable.
“Fearing public support for the MQM in AJK, undemocratic tactics are being employed to create hindrances against the MQM. The postponement of election on LA-30, LA-36 and LA-41 constituencies is a part of the nefarious plot to stop the MQM. “We were aware about the government’s intentions because the PPP was exerting pressure on the MQM and using undemocratic tactics to withdraw one candidate from these constituencies. At first the polling stations were shifted to such sensitive areas where not only the MQM workers could go easily but also it would have been impossible for the voters to exercise their free rights to vote while pressure was also being exerted on returning officers to shift polling stations.
“Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and other important personalities also tried to compel the MQM to withdraw its candidates from at least one constituency in favour of a PPP candidate. “When the MQM refused to withdraw its candidates, the elections were postponed on the seats in Karachi and Abbottabad on the pretext of security considerations. Despite the fact that the Sindh chief minister had himself accepted on the floor of the house that the law and order situation had improved, Sindh Inspector General of Police Wajid Durrani was asked to make a fictitious report highlighting security concerns,” said Sattar. It was for the first time that any MQM leader has directly criticised the federal interior minister and federal government as well. However, it remains to be seen if Rehman Malik stays the MQM’s ‘blue-eyed boy’.
