Demanding a fair re-election in NA-122 and NA-125 constituencies of Lahore, Pakistan Terhreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters on Thursday continued their sit-in and protest demonstrations against alleged rigging in recent polls for the fifth day.
A large number of women and children have been participating in the sit-in for the last five day.
The protesters demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan investigate the rigging and “PTI mandate theft” without delay. They added that the protest would continue until the ECP took effective action.
Meanwhile, Coordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) called off the sit-in in Karachi on an appeal by party chief Altaf Hussain.
Altaf appealed to the committee to delay the Karachi sit-in until the ECP’s decision on the Muttahida’s appeal came in.
Later, MQM leader Farooq Sattar announced the postponement of the sit-in outside the Sindh Election Commission office, reading out the minutes from Altaf’s speech.
Addressing the protesters, Rabita Committee Deputy Convener Anees Qaimkhani announced to observe “Yaum-e-Tashakkur” (Day of Gratitude) today (Friday).
Addressing simultaneous meetings in Karachi and London, Altaf earlier congratulated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif over his landslide victory in general elections, saying, “The N-League attained majority in National Assembly. And, we accept this mandate.”
Urging the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to reciprocate the MQM’s bid by accepting the party’s mandate, he hoped Nawaz would do justice in the entire country and deliver good governance.