Durrani warns against 1977-style election manipulation

ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister and senior politician Muhammad Ali Durrani says the ground realities in the run-up to the general elections have revived the memories of 1977 elections marred by worst rigging in the history.

“Revocation of electoral symbol, snatching of nomination papers, curtailing the right to campaign, and suppressing freedom of expression, is not an election but a selection and this war against democracy will result in the defeat for everyone,” he warned in a statement on Sunday.

He pointed out that pre-poll rigging by the Punjab administration was reminiscent of the shameful manipulation during the 1977 elections.

“The 1977 elections, under the control of the administration (the executive), are the only elections in the country’s history that the entire nation had rejected. It would be naive to expect any different results from the upcoming elections after deploying the controversial tactics of the 1977 elections.

“If the tactics of 1977 are applied in 2024, the country, democracy, the people, and institutions will suffer the same dilemmas as in 1977 and harm the national interests,” he warned.

Durrani said the administration was under Nawaz Sharif’s control, causing restlessness among the people.

Talking about the appointment of the chief election commissioner from civil service and his conduct, he said the failure would become an example of the failure of the civil service, just like the infamous judges of the past could not rid themselves of the stigma.

He said that Nawaz Sharif cannot gain legitimacy by “disrespecting” the vote and his party would be the biggest loser of using these tactics.