PTI, JI carrying out propaganda to justify imminent defeat: MQM

KARACHI: Rejecting all allegations levelled by Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar said Tuesday the two parties were trying to find a justification for their imminent defeat in the NA-246 by-poll.

Talking at a press conference, he said the JI, which according to him had always tried to misguide the people, has now been accusing MQM of setting up “ghost polling stations” and snatching national identity cards.

He said an FIR should be lodged if anybody’s CNIC has been snatched. “We reject these allegations the two parties are hurling against us,” he said.

The MQM leader accused the JI and the PTI of misguiding people through propaganda. He demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take notice of what he said violation of code of conduct.

Sattar said except MQM's, all the demands of other parties have been met. “Why haven’t neutral observers from FAFEN and other organisations been called so far when only two days are left in the by-poll,” he asked.

The by-election is scheduled for April 23 (Thursday).

He warned that the electoral body would equally be held responsible if any effort to 'rob the mandate of people' was made.

MQM candidate asks authorities to lift ban on pillion riding

Meanwhile, MQM candidate for the NA-246 Kanwar Naveed Jamil demanded of the authorities to lift a ban on pillion riding to facilitate the voters of the constituency, who he said, belong to poor and middle class community.