JI and PPP accuse government of rigging in local bodies' polls

Two main opposition parties, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pakistan People's Party have accused government of large scale rigging in phase-I Local Government elections. In an interview with VOA, Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed said tension was prevailing in Karachi ahead of elections.
He said government was aware of the fact that it could not win elections if those were held in a fair manner. He accused government machinery of expelling JI polling agents and supporters from 300 polling stations of 50 Union Councils.
He also said the MQM activists completely occupied polling stations in the provincial metropolis and stopped election staff from performing their duties. They did all this under the patronage of Rangers, Army and administration, he added.
To a question about government's claim of peaceful completion of phase-I Local Government elections, Qazi Hussain Ahmed said, "They sent armed men and expelled others from polling stations. What kind of success is this? Bloodshed may start if we pick arms. But, we are not doing so."
To a question about filling complaint with the Election Commission, he said, "We already informed about the rigging. However, I am unable to comment on their attitude in this regard. All the government institutions seem helpless before Pervez Musharraf. All the institutions have been ruined. Similar is the case with the Election Commission."
Meanwhile, commenting on the situation, PPP Information Secretary Taj Haider said there was well organised rigging in phase-I Local Government elections. He added armed persons belonging to ruling parties, PML and MQM seized polling stations and they filled ballot boxes prior to the polling.
To a question, he said PPP won the elections despite rigging in the past, but what could be expected when large-scale rigging occurred. He added that at some place ballot papers were not reached in time, election staff was also absent at different places. Moreover, voters especially women were expelled forcibly at some polling stations. He said government was not gaining popularity by using those tactics rather it was creating hatred against it.